General
12 Jun 08
12 Jun 08
I was walking down the street with my girlfriend last night and I spotted a guy kicking the crap out of his dog. I shouted at him and he briefly stopped, looked up and then decided I am not a threat, continued stamping on his dog. It was brutal.
I called the police and they promised they'll send someone round, but realistically a dog being beaten up won't rank that high on their list of priorities.
I feel bad because I think I should have done more, like interfere and take the dog off him or something like that, but at the same time, with the current climate of knivings and shootings in London I didn't want to take the risk.
I am angry that I didn't react the way I would have liked to react.
What would you have done?
12 Jun 08
I love animals so much. They have given me far more love and respect in my life than I ever get from people. It sickens me beyond words to see a dog mistreated. There is no reason for that no matter what the dog may have done. You did the right thing by calling the police, and perhaps a call to the humane society is in order too, but it's too risky to get more personally involved than that at that point. Just take as accurate a description as you can of the scumbag and if there is a way to photo or film the scene, then do it.
12 Jun 08
Originally posted by knightwestDon't be too hard on yourself, you did the right thing. We're not all like Jean Claude Van Dam and can put bad guys in their place, you'd of felt like an idiot if you tried to stop him and he kicked the crap out of you, or worse, was nuts and had a weapon. It's too easy to get killed nowadays.
I was walking down the street with my girlfriend last night and I spotted a guy kicking the crap out of his dog. I shouted at him and he briefly stopped, looked up and then decided I am not a threat, continued stamping on his dog. It was brutal.
I called the police and they promised they'll send someone round, but realistically a dog being beaten up wo ...[text shortened]... angry that I didn't react the way I would have liked to react.
What would you have done?
12 Jun 08
Originally posted by Sam The ShamThat's what I thought, although I would have loved to knock him out.
Don't be too hard on yourself, you did the right thing. We're not all like Jean Claude Van Dam and can put bad guys in their place, you'd of felt like an idiot if you tried to stop him and he kicked the crap out of you, or worse, was nuts and had a weapon. It's too easy to get killed nowadays.
12 Jun 08
Originally posted by knightwestHave a bit more faith in your abilities, saying and doing nothing is not the way to go.
I was walking down the street with my girlfriend last night and I spotted a guy kicking the crap out of his dog. I shouted at him and he briefly stopped, looked up and then decided I am not a threat, continued stamping on his dog. It was brutal.
I called the police and they promised they'll send someone round, but realistically a dog being beaten up wo ...[text shortened]... angry that I didn't react the way I would have liked to react.
What would you have done?
The RSPCA do have the right to remove.
12 Jun 08
1 edit
Originally posted by WoodgieTo be fair to the guy. If this pricc will beat a dog, he'll do the same to anyone he considers bellow him.
Have a bit more faith in your abilities, saying and doing nothing is not the way to go.
The RSPCA do have the right to remove.
Right move Knightwest, the ineptitude of the po0lice is a fault. It's a pity there's people like this in the world.
12 Jun 08
Originally posted by knightwestThey do, but are stretched and would seek Police support for an incident such as this anyway.
Yeah, but I didn't have their number so I called the police instead.
Also, not sure if they RSPCA have the right to just take an animal of someone.
You faced a situation that there is no script for. Don't be hard on yourself. Getting involved may well not have prevented the attack, could even have escalated it, and as pointed out, you really don't know how he would have reacted. Weapons are a possibility, but even without, he has shown his propensity towards violence. You could have been badly hurt. Like swerving to avoid a fox in the road, you have to weigh up the risk to yourself versus the risk to the animal as objectively as possible.
You did all you could in calling the authorities. You made yourself known to him, and this didn't stop it. I sincerely hope the police followed it up, but there is an offence of animal cruelty here, so dont be afraid to chase it up with the police, and retrospectively call in the RSPCA. With you as witness there is still the possibility of a prosecution. Sadly for 'lesser priorities' such as this, shouting loudly and not giving up can get things done that otherwise would be filed.
It is not the same, but I have faced public disorder situations where I was unable to help vulnerable people being set upon by gangs. I tried to deter with my presence, but it made no difference. I couldn't take on a dozen crazed thugs on my own, so I didn't. I still think about these situations, and what I should have done. The harsh fact is I couldn't do anything, other than create another victim. It is not my fault, it is the perpetrators fault.
You didnt use the risk of violence as an excuse to do nothing (like so many in our society). You did something by making the call.
12 Jun 08
1 edit
Originally posted by PolicestateWell said.(rec)
They do, but are stretched and would seek Police support for an incident such as this anyway.
You faced a situation that there is no script for. Don't be hard on yourself. Getting involved may well not have prevented the attack, could even have escalated it, and as pointed out, you really don't know how he would have reacted. Weapons are a possibility, xcuse to do nothing (like so many in our society). You did something by making the call.
12 Jun 08
Originally posted by huckleberryhoundOn one hand you are right, but on the other, why should our mate back down?
To be fair to the guy. If this pricc will beat a dog, he'll do the same to anyone he considers bellow him.
Right move Knightwest, the ineptitude of the po0lice is a fault. It's a pity there's people like this in the world.
He has to grow a set one day.
I love animals and do a little bit of voluntary work for a rescue centre.
What type of dog was getting the beating?
There are a very few rare instances where bringing a dog down is called for.
12 Jun 08
Originally posted by WoodgieI think that saying he should 'grow a set' is a comment made in the heat of emotion. and rather ill-founded. We all agree we would want to stop this. We all agree it is deplorable. We all fantasise about rescuing the vulnerable.
On one hand you are right, but on the other, why should our mate back down?
He has to grow a set one day.
I love animals and do a little bit of voluntary work for a rescue centre.
What type of dog was getting the beating?
There are a very few rare instances where bringing a dog down is called for.
But you weren't there, facing a very real threat. Trust me, I could put you in situations where a blase 'I would definately get stuck in' attitude would soon wain. This is simply not practical in some situations. To make blanket statements implying we all have a duty to intervene is too simplistic. We all have a duty not to walk on by. This does not translate to rushing in where fools would fear to tread.
I tried to be a hero once, and ended up on my back with a filleting knife in my face. His free will was the only thing that saved me. I was utterly helpless, because I took on something I couldn't handle. Not sure my family would have been too impressed with my decision if it had gone wrong, and I didn't prevent the offence in question.
Don't be so quick to judge Woodgie
12 Jun 08
2 edits
Originally posted by PolicestateYou are assuming I have never been in his position and you are also assuming I have never been in your position.
I think that saying he should 'grow a set' is a comment made in the heat of emotion. and rather ill-founded. We all agree we would want to stop this. We all agree it is deplorable. We all fantasise about rescuing the vulnerable.
But you weren't there, facing a very real threat. Trust me, I could put you in situations where a blase 'I would definately ong, and I didn't prevent the offence in question.
Don't be so quick to judge Woodgie
You are wrong on both counts.
Edit: For evil to succeed requires good men to do nothing.
No offence is intended in my comments by the way.