UK shooting incident

[Gob]

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a memorial vigil for a cow which was shot dead by police marksmen.



The cow, nicknamed Bessie, was one of three which escaped Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside on Sunday. A helicopter and six police marksmen tracked the trio - two were recaptured but Bessie was shot "in the interests of public safety. The vigil is to take place at 18:00 BST on Friday, at a field in Chicken Lane, Wallsend.

More than 6,000 people have liked a Facebook page set up in her memory. Those attending are asked to wear a cow onesie and bring a candle.


Dave Turner, who set up the R.I.P. Wallsend Cow Facebook page, said: "It's not every day you get a cow getting shot in a field nearby. I think we need to mark this occasion with a serious send-off for Bessie. "It wasn't doing anything, it was just eating a bit of grass - it probably got sick of the grass it was eating elsewhere, it heard about a nice new patch, went down and started grazing, and the next thing is police turn up and start firing at it. "We are going to light candles and say a little prayer for her."

A Northumbria Police spokesman said Bessie was destroyed after becoming "increasingly distressed" and "causing dangerous and severe obstructions" on a major road.

[Lord Jim]

This looks to me like the appropriate send off:

[rubato]

Probably shouldn't give British police guns if they're all this easily frightened.

yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

I think he's trying to commit humour again.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Our police are not easily cowed. The UK version of the Philly Moooove confrontation, just a few days late for the 30th!

[Scooter]

Having a memorial service for a cow is stupid. So is not being able to figure out a non-lethal way to subdue a cow. Did the police even attempt to contact a local farmer or vet, who probably would have had to deal with a similar situation?

[Crackpot]

It was determined that a cattle prod would be inhumane.

[Scooter]

Some police should have one shoved up their anus.

[Lord Jim]

I don't know what kind of resources the police in the area had, (though apparently they had a helicopter and marksmen) one would think they might have obtained a tranquilizer dart...

But be that as it may, what's done is done, and as I indicated in my earlier post it seems a shame to let a good barbecue go to waste...

[Long Run]

Our police are not easily cowed.

I herd that one, but I'll let you milk it for all its worth.

[Joe Guy]

The British are rarely embroiled in a beef with so much at steak.

[Long Run]

That's udder nonsense, Joe.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Some police should have one shoved up their anus.

It'll be a fun weekend in Toronto (or wherever)

[wesw]

can we moo-ove on?

[oldr_n_wsr]

What is a "cow onesie " that people are being asked to wear?

Those attending are asked to wear a cow onesie and bring a candle.

[Joe Guy]

[Scooter]

Clearly the police shot the wrong target, because anyone who would wear that should be put out of their misery.

[Gob]

Clearly the police shot the wrong target, because anyone who would wear that should be put out of our misery.

FTFY

[oldr_n_wsr]

Well that's disturbing.

I agree with

anyone who would wear that should be put out of their/our misery.

[Gob]

Is it any wonder I miss living in the Westcountry?

Residents of Compton Martin have paid homage to a long serving member of the community after he was eaten by a fox.



Local duck Desmond Drake spent more than 25 years at the village pond in the Somerset village and had become a local 'icon'.

Resident Andrew Griffiths told the Western Daily Press: "He became family, he became a village icon. There was even a little society, the blood of the duck, and we would drink whisky with a duck egg in.

"He has been a permanent fixture of the pond, for in excess of 25 years, outliving all his contemporaries.

"He has brought joy and happiness to people of all ages. Lots of people have been giving their condolences since his death."

The official ceremony will take place next week.



Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Wak ... z3c3QiPaVI
Follow us: @WMNNews on Twitter | westernmorningnews on Facebook