The Sled Dog Killer - "Following Orders" is No Excuse

[ensho]

http://counterpunch.com/brasch02042011.html


A man who killed 100 sled dogs has received not a prison sentence but workers' compensation from a British Columbia agency. The man successfully proved he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after he claimed he was ordered to kill the dogs. "It was the worst experience could ever imagine, his lawyer told CKNW, Vancouver, which had obtained the government document and then contacted the Humane Society.

-snip-

According to the British Columbia review decision, issued Jan. 25, the man, unidentified by name in the document but later revealed to be Robert Fawcett, general manager and founder of Howling Dog Tours Whistler, "was tasked to cull the employer's herd by approximately 100 dogs." OAW denies it issued any such orders. Fawcett claims he was under orders to significantly improve the financial performance, and that killing about one-third of the pack was the last resort. However, a statement posted on the OAW website says "there were no instructions given to Mr. Fawcett as to the manner of euthanizing dogs on this occasion, and Mr. Fawcett was known to have very humanely euthanized dogs on previous occasions." Thus, it seems entirely plausible that OAW expected Fawcett to eliminate about one-third of the pack. OAW has suspended all dog sled operations.

According to the Review Board, Fawcett claimed he made extraordinary efforts to adopt out the dogs, but told the Board there was only limited success. He said he contacted a veterinarian to humanely euthanize the dogs, but the veterinarian refused to kill healthy animals.

-snip-

On April 21, 2010, Fawcett began the executions, using a shotgun, rifle, and knife to kill 55 dogs. Two days later, he killed 45. Most of the kills were not "clean." The workers' compensation board reported that dogs suffered as much as 20 minutes after first being shot before dying, and that some were shot and put alive into a mass grave. The dogs were forced to watch others being killed before they, too, would be killed. In panic and fear, they began to attack their executioner who wrapped his arms in foam to prevent his own injuries. By the end of each day of killing, Fawcett was covered by the blood of his victims.

-snip-
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the dogs did not deserve such cruelty at the hands of humans.

[get the red out]

1. No words

That I can post that would not be deleted.

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. This practice not so uncommon

People get too many sled dogs. They just shoot them. Just that most people never hear about it.

Animals and money just don't mix worth a damn.

[get the red out]

5. Animal abuse

shouldn't mix with humanity.

Maybe it's good people heard about it this time. I have heard about so many animal abuse cases lately both locally and other areas that I am starting to see these horrible humans who engage in it as far more expendable that dogs; actually more expendable than flies or mold even.

[xchrom]

2. i really wish i hadn't read this. i know this shit happens -- i don't need to know the details. nt

[TwilightGardener]

3. Killing 100 dogs with your bloody bare hands...some people really will

do anything for money. Burn in hell, asshole.

[RandomThoughts]

6. yea that is sad, I wont do things like that for money.

What amazes me is what people are willing to do to avoid paying the just due of beer and travel money due to me. It is terrible the choices they make to try to avoid paying what is due.

Very sad, but it shows what some people are about.