…Researched and contributed by Femi Taiwo.
Police had to shoot a bull that was on the loose near a primary school in the usually quiet town of Haslington, Cheshire, after it reportedly charged at eight people.
The incident took place before 9am on Wednesday, just as the school run was finishing up.
The animal was put down to prevent it from causing any further danger.
The police and firearms team were called in to attend the scene, with local residents and pupils around Dingle Primary School being put into lockdown.
The bull’s owner had failed to control it, and it posed a risk to the public, as well as a danger of escaping onto a main road and surrounding housing estates.
The bull’s owner was unable to secure it, and the decision was taken to shoot it before anyone was seriously hurt.
The decision was not taken lightly, and the main focus was to protect residents, some of whom were dropping children off at the nearby school.
One local who was nearly charged by the bull stated that she hoped the police would take the matter further with whoever allowed the animal to escape.
Commentary:
This is an unusual and alarming incident that highlights the importance of proper animal control measures.
The situation could have turned much worse if the bull had not been put down before it caused any serious harm.
It’s unclear how the bull managed to escape, but the incident is a reminder of the potential danger that animals can pose when they are not properly secured.
It is important that animal owners take responsibility for their animals and ensure they are kept under control at all times to prevent harm to others.