Local man’s horror as pet dogs are shot dead near forest park

The two dogs escaped from their pen on Tuesday January 3 and are thought to have headed straight for the place they were most used to - Hillsborough Forest Park, where they were regularly walked by their owner Keith Johnston.

However, the dogs strayed from the park onto land owned by AFBI, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, where the male and female Siberian Huskies were shot.

An AFBI spokesperson said that despite “concerted efforts” by staff, they had been unable to prevent the dogs from worrying pregnant sheep and had no alternative.

But the dogs’ owner said he was horrified that another way could not have been found to deal with the situation.

Keith said: “I have had Ice since he was a pup and he was nearly four and Alaska was rescued four months ago from a pound, There was such a bond between us.

“I got a phone call from my brother last week to say the dogs had been seen in Culcavey. Then at 2.30pm I had a call from the dog warden to say the dogs had been shot. They gave no reason and when I asked why I was told the dogs were in with the livestock, but those two dogs were so timid.”

Keith said there is little in the way to deter dogs - or even people - straying onto the AFBI’s land.

“It’s just unbelievable, Surely I should be the one held responsible if something happens and not the dogs? If they had killed something I could sympathise, but these dogs would not attack anything,” continued Keith. “If you’d shot one dog the other would have run so I don’t know what happened.

“I know my two dogs, if they had shot up in the air they would have been gone. I could see through it if an animal attacks animals, but even then, they should be taking me to court. They don’t have to shoot two innocent animals.

Keith said it was a week before he was able to talk about what had happened and he did so by posting a message on Facebook to tell friends of the dogs’ death.

Keith said: “A lot of friends said ‘this is ridiculous, you need to do something’. People go up to the forest park to let dogs be dogs and they are very at risk if they stray off the park, I’d just like to make people aware.

“I just cannot believe there are no precautions in that park to say that land is so close by. Yes, we all know dogs should be leashed, my dogs had never been off their leads, but they could come out of their collar, break their leash or harness. This is a government run business, this isn’t even some local farmer. If they put livestock beside a public walking park with dogs then we should know the implications that come with this and be responsible for it.”

Keith said that was why he has started a Facebook campaign and e-petition, ‘Justice for Ice and Alaska’, to honour his pets. He has also contacted Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson.

An AFBI spokesperson said: “Two large stray dogs were found worrying pregnant Ewes in a large field at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Hillsborough farm. The Dog Warden from Lisburn City Council was contacted.

“Despite repeated and concerted efforts, staff were unable to stop the dogs worrying the sheep. As the sheep were in a highly distressed condition, and given the risk of loss of unborn lambs, there was no option but to shoot the dogs, using a legally held firearm, to protect the flock.

“A Dog Warden from Lisburn City Council scanned the dogs and found they were both chipped from which they were able to identify the owner. The incident was reported by AFBI to the local PSNI.”

MP Jeffrey Donaldson said: “Keith has been in contact with me and he is obviously very distressed about the loss of his two pet dogs in extreme circumstances.

“I have written to the Chief Executive of AFBI seeking an explanation of the action taken when the dogs were shot dead, asking them to inquire if there were other actions taken by staff at the research facility to either warn off or restrain them rather than shooting the dogs. I understand that farmers and those in agriculture have to protect their livestock, but I want to be clear that this action was absolutely the last resort.”