Running over escaped dog was 'only safe option', police say

Police officers intentionally run over a dog as it ran among traffic on a main road in north Wales.

The force received reports of a dog on the loose on the A55 near Conwy Tunnel at around 3am yesterday. When they arrived, officers saw a foxhound running towards oncoming traffic, forcing vehicles, including an HGV, to swerve to avoid a collision.

One officer sustained a bite wound as police tried without success to apprehend the animal on foot. Deeming the presence of the animal on the unlit carriageway an "unacceptable" risk, they then used their patrol car to intentionally run over the animal, killing it.

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In a statement, Chief Inspector Darren Wareing, of the roads policing unit, said the officers involved agreed there was "no alternative way" to prevent the possibility of a serious road accident.

"The only safe option was to run the dog over at sufficient speed to ensure that it was destroyed and would not suffer," he said

The two officers involved were both dog owners themselves and "did not take this decision lightly", but their actions had been necessary to protect drivers, he added.

"Due to the seriousness of the incident, it needed bringing to a conclusion quickly for the safety of all concerned."

News of the incident has caused concern among many animal lovers, who left 10,000 comments on the force's Facebook page, the majority of them condemning the officers' actions.

"Surely it would have been better to get in the appropriate people… close the road for a short time and get this animal to safety," read one message, while others suggested the officers should be prosecuted for animal cruelty.

However, some commenters came to the force's defence. "I've had dogs all my life, but as much as I love them human life goes before them," wrote one. "What would the headlines have been if the dog had caused a multi car pile up with several dead?"