Maggie's Farm

You write as if the "State Cop" was doing something bad....inhumane. Think about it, most larger jurisdictions (the one I worked for included) have investigations EVERY time you fire your weapon. Shoot the horse, have to call the Detectives and they have to take statements, make photographs, have you make a formal, video recorded statement and then they set up an appointment with a "shooting review board" where you are grilled about shot placement, other alternatives to the shooting, background of the shot animal (where an over-penetration or hit off a bone would go) and you will, after having to spend all day at the review board, probably be cleared but possibly not depending on how many people were around, who the owner of the horse was and the owner's attitude upon learning you killed his horse (whether he wants the city to pay for the animal.) Then, somewhere down the road, you later have to shoot a dog that attacks you or another injured animal....the owner sues or files a complaint over the shot and you go to court and the lawyer for the plaintiff questions you on the necessity of killing the animal and the lawyer pulls out your department record and goes to the part in which you shot a horse and looks at the jury and says "this is your second time killing an animal, perhaps you are a little quick in doing so, perhaps you look at an animal as not worthy of your mercy!" It does not take much to sway a member of the jury if they are not liking Police in the first place or maybe they are big on animal rights. Yeah, I know exactly why the Officer waited on the vet.