Police beneath scrutiny after incident with world’s unluckiest goose

Police mentioned they needed to place the waterfowl, which they believed had avian flu, out of its distress.

A video exhibiting police in Shrewsbury taking pictures a Canada goose and stepping on its neck is drawing public criticism.

A witness captured video of the incident, wherein officers are seen on the facet of a busy highway. One of many officers seems to be pointing a gun on the goose mendacity in a grassy space.

The officer shot the goose twice, in accordance with a Boston 25 Information report that aired the video. Nevertheless, the hen survived each blasts. One other officer then stepped on the goose’s neck earlier than an environmental police officer arrived and shot the goose a 3rd time, killing it.

The police division launched a assertion saying that officers believed the hen was affected by Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also called avian flu, which has been an ongoing drawback locally.

Police mentioned the incident occurred on South Quinsigamond Avenue after officers noticed a goose that “gave the impression to be in extreme misery.”

After talking with close by residents and the native Animal Management Officer, who was off responsibility, officers decided that the goose was possible affected by avian flu. The division mentioned police determined to kill the hen within the curiosity of public security and to forestall it from struggling.

“Sadly, our officer’s makes an attempt to place the animal down weren’t as efficient as they have been meant to be,” the assertion mentioned. “A Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer responded to the scene, and was capable of safely shoot and euthanize the goose. Our division will take this chance to evaluate our responses to future related calls, and make enhancements the place obligatory.”

As Boston 25 Information experiences, the lady who captured the video says the goose appeared to have been hit by a automotive earlier than the incident.

Police mentioned that since January 2025, Shrewsbury Animal Management has eliminated at the very least 12 birds from the Lake Quinsigamond and Flint Pond space that have been suspected of getting HPAI. They’ve additionally gotten a number of experiences of different sick or lifeless birds in the identical space.

For a number of months, Massachusetts communities have grappled with outbreaks of avian flu. The illness is extraordinarily contagious amongst birds and is normally lethal — with a virtually 100% fatality fee as soon as birds are contaminated.

In response to the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management, people can catch HPAI by means of shut contact with contaminated birds. In these instances, the virus might be severe, with a few 50% fatality fee.

Raptor Tales Rescue of Shrewsbury launched an announcement saying rehabilitators have been “upset and disgusted” with the actions police took in euthanizing the hen. The group mentioned, “many humane choices have been accessible for this animal,” and that police ought to have completed a extra thorough job assessing the scenario.

“As a rescue, watching this video churns our stomachs. As soon as it was publicly posted, calls started rolling in, emails, texts and messages to the rescue from a number of folks on website however at that time the goose was deceased,” the rescue group mentioned, including that it frequently handles birds with avian flu and neurological issues.

“Please do higher SPD, ask for assist if you’re not educated relating to wildlife euthanasia, or dealing with/restraint, watch for skilled professionals or name a wildlife rehabilitator (we’re proper right here!),” the group mentioned. “Whereas we extremely respect our officers and the troublesome job they carry out each day, a greater clarification is required for what we will solely describe as animal cruelty.”