Police respond to video, online comments after officers euthanize deer with a knife
By Jeremy Appel on September 13, 2019.
@MHNJeremyAppel Police have responded to a “disturbing” video circulating on social media of two officers euthanizing an injured deer with a knife. According to a Medicine Hat Police Service news release, Alberta Wish and Wildlife called the officers to 500 block of Third Avenue NW around 9:47 a.m. Friday, after receiving a call from a member of the public about a wounded deer. Fish and Wildlife didn’t have the available officers to attend to the scene themselves. When police arrived, they found a young deer with “extensive injuries, believed to be the result of a vehicle collision,” the release states. One of the animal’s legs was severed, while two others were “severely fractured.” Due to the extent of the injuries, the cops determined the deer was “mortally wounded” and decided to euthanize it as the most humane course of action. Because the deer was located in a residential area, the officers decided it would be inappropriate to use a gun, so they opted for a knife as “the safest way to end the animals suffering,” according to the news release. Before killing the animal, the officers attempted to contact neighbours to let them know what was happening, and then put a barrier in place to prevent the public from seeing the potentially-traumatizing act. After they confirmed the deer was deceased, the officers disposed of the remains and cleaned the blood from the area, then “reached out to neighbours to inform them of what had occurred in an effort to avoid further trauma.” The news release ends by acknowledging the video’s existence and offering the officers the MHPS’s full support. The full statement can be read here. The video can be viewed here. Some may find the content disturbing. More to come… 15
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Fish and Wildlife in this town is pathetic! They never seem to have “available staff”. Considering the amount of wildlife we have in the area, you’d expect better.
Using a knife is barbaric. I cannot understand why, if discharging a firearm is unsafe, police as well as Fish and Wildlife are not able to carry some sort of euthanizing shot (drug) which could end an animals suffering.
Additionally, there are people in this town who simply do not take care when passing deer. Yes, sometimes a deer can run out unexpectedly and an accident is unavoidable. However, often times, even when it’s safe to do so, people just will not slow down or they will go out of their way to chase them from a green space or yard and out into traffic.
But then, one need only hear the complaints of all the deer haters in this town to understand…..I’m surprised there are not more dead deer, by whatever means.
That poor little deer.
Tough story for sure and yes, would be a great idea for police to have something in their cruisers to deal with this situation. That said, it appears police dealt with this injured animal in the most humane way possible. Kudos to them.