A sad tale.

[Twitcheruth]

These distressing images of an injured Mute Swan were taken by a colleague of my husbands who knowing that we were birders rang my husband to ask who he should contact about the bird.
The RSPCA were contacted and within 30 minutes a trained handler arrived to first rescue the Cygnets and then the adult......the other adult had unfortunately already died from it's injuries,caused by a stray dog it is thought.
The Swan was taken to a local Vet for treatment,it's not known yet how the bird is or if it even survived the dreadful incident.

[alanjns]

That's terrible, I hope they pull through.

I get so angry with irresponsible dog owners, although you say this one is thought to be a stray. On my local reserves we have countless people walking dogs off the leash, despite clear signs asking them to keep them on the leash.

I'm sure we've all had birds scared off by dogs running about and barking, and not to mention jumping up at you when you are trying to watch birds. I've had a stand off with a snarling dog on more than one occasion, before the owner eventually pulls it away. Most annoying are the ones who don't even apologise, or make any kind of comment at all, but just call the dog and keep on going.

We have a small wetland park here, next to Marton Mere, and there are signs all around explaining about keeping out of the water because of the important and endangered wildlife - they are trying to encourage Crested Newts to breed - but I continually see people letting their dogs go into the ponds, even throwing sticks or balls into the water for them.

There never seems to be a ranger around either when this happens, only once in the last 3 years have I seen a ranger challenge someone about their dog.

[Neil Rigby]

Thanks Twitcheruth for bringing this to our attention.

It really brings up the awareness levels of this kind of needless incident.

Please let us know how things progress.

[Twitcheruth]

Originally Posted by alanjns

That's terrible, I hope they pull through.

Originally Posted by Neil Rigby

Thanks Twitcheruth for bringing this to our attention.

Thanks Alan and Neil (call me Ruth,Neil).......I certainly will try to find out how the Swan is and let you know.

I love dogs but do get so annoyed with the owners who seem to think we all love their dogs and welcome being jumped at with muddy paws as "Fido is only playing!!"
I'll not get into a discussion about the mess left behind!!!!!

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by Twitcheruth

Thanks Alan and Neil (call me Ruth,Neil).......I certainly will try to find out how the Swan is and let you know.

I love dogs but do get so annoyed with the owners who seem to think we all love their dogs and welcome being jumped at with muddy paws as "Fido is only playing!!"
I'll not get into a discussion about the mess left behind!!!!!

These kind of incidents are all too common and, it is indeed the dog owners to blame not the dogs. I have had several run ins with people who thought it was funny to see their dog chase birds around It's a real pleasure to see a responsible dog owner with a well trained dog, I often comment on it to them as we sometimes tend only to say something when it annoys us rather than praising people and dogs when they're being responsible.

you are right not to get in to that type of descussion, they often get messy

cheers, John

[bassist]

It is the owners who are at fault.............!irresponsible ones.......!

[Kate Rigby]

Originally Posted by alanjns

That's terrible, I hope they pull through.

I get so angry with irresponsible dog owners, although you say this one is thought to be a stray. On my local reserves we have countless people walking dogs off the leash, despite clear signs asking them to keep them on the leash.

I'm sure we've all had birds scared off by dogs running about and barking, and not to mention jumping up at you when you are trying to watch birds. I've had a stand off with a snarling dog on more than one occasion, before the owner eventually pulls it away. Most annoying are the ones who don't even apologise, or make any kind of comment at all, but just call the dog and keep on going.

Hi Alan, As a keen birdwatcher and dog owner, I can say that we;re not all that bad!! I would never take my dog to a Nature Reserve. Unfortunately the irresponsible minority give us all a bad name, as usual ( as with leaving dog's mess all over the place). We keenly monitor our dog's movements and he's not even allowed out in the garden at certain times - e;g when the ground feeding birds are around.

[Twitcheruth]

Originally Posted by Kate Rigby

Hi Alan, As a keen birdwatcher and dog owner, I can say that we;re not all that bad!! I would never take my dog to a Nature Reserve. Unfortunately the irresponsible minority give us all a bad name, as usual ( as with leaving dog's mess all over the place). We keenly monitor our dog's movements and he's not even allowed out in the garden at certain times - e;g when the ground feeding birds are around.

Unfortunately as with all things it's the minority who give the rest a bad name,I'm sure most dog owners are very responsible folk.

[Little Sparrow]

Any news on the Swan, Ruth?

[Twitcheruth]

Originally Posted by Little Sparrow

Any news on the Swan, Ruth?

Nothing yet Judith......I keep asking but you know what men are like at remembering to enquire about things!