Earl and Countess of Wessex and Family Current Events 4: August 2008-October 2009

[Skydragon]

Animal charities have accused Prince Edward of setting a "sickening example" as pictures showed him apparently hitting his dog

Prince accused of 'hitting his dog' - Yahoo! News UK

Prince Dog-Beater: Outrage as Edward repeatedly lashes out at gundogs with a 4ft stick

Prince Dog-Beater: Outrage as Edward repeatedly lashes out at gundogs with a 4ft stick | Mail Online

 

[sirhon11234]

Oh my gosh. What in the hell is the matter with him?

 

[ada]

Trying to break up a dog fight can be really scary, unfortunately I think Edward was more concerned about his pheasant being pulled apart by the dogs.

 

[Al_bina]

Prince Edward did what he thought to be appropriate in the situation. Applying the universal excuse, he just showed his human side.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Trying to break up a dog fight can be really scary, unfortunately I think Edward was more concerned about his pheasant being pulled apart by the dogs.

How can you tell that he was more concerned for the dead pheasant?

From the photos I am not sure what he is doing other then trying to stop the dogs from doing something - fighting, tearing apart the pheasant or whatever is the reporters story. The photos simply show him with a stick near the dogs. The stick is in different positions.

We can read a lot into photos but can we be sure that what the reporter actually wrote is what is happening or is it what they say is happening based on the photos? Where was the photographer? Where was the reporter?

If breaking up a fight then using a stick to make a noise near them is a good way I have been told as it does the trick without hurting either of the dogs - so long as the dogs weren't actually hit of course.

The royals grow up with animals all around them and to report that they mistreat them seems to go against the evidence of dog-lovers that we see of them most of the time. They do know what they are supposed to do in certain circumstances because they are taught it from birth.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Remember this is The Mail who take every negative stance they can on the royals.

When reading The Mail I always remember that they hate the royals so they are always trying to bring them down and this could be another story about not much anyway.

Do any of the photos show Edward hitting the dogs? No. Why not? Because either the photographer didn't get any photos of Edward hitting the dogs or because Edward actually didn't hit the dogs at all but hit the ground near the dogs to stop them doing something else.

 

[Kezza]

My family own and show dogs and we are guilty of doing what Edward has been pictured doing to break up fights and disagreements between dogs. It is quite clear to me that those dogs were fighting somewhat. It can be very hard to stop to dogs fighting with your bare hands.

 

[Skydragon]

Trying to break up a dog fight can be really scary, unfortunately I think Edward was more concerned about his pheasant being pulled apart by the dogs.

I too have had to break up dog fights, mine are Great Danes and whilst I use a stick to push them apart, I would never dream of raising the stick in the air and striking down. The pictures shown on Sky and many of the UK papers show the stick contacting, after the dogs had separated. One dog is cowering away from Edward, so I would think this is something that Edward has done to the dog before, (if I raise a stick, mine think I am about to throw it for them).

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2008/12/27/prince-accused-of-hitting-his-dog-115875-20999201/

Sunday Express | UK News :: Edward’s vicious attack on his dog

Earl of Wessex in gun dog 'cruelty' row - Telegraph

The dog then ran off and Prince Edward gave chase, taking another swing in its direction ----
I don't know if he physically struck them. But both dogs are fine – no harm was done to them.
-------------
No denial from the palace then, just a fudge around it with 'I DON'T KNOW', they are probably waiting to see if the dogs are going to report it!

 

[sophie25]

It's not just the Daily Mail that is carrying the story. Most of todays newspapers are as well as the T.V. news channels in the U.K.

 

[wymanda]

My family own and show dogs and we are guilty of doing what Edward has been pictured doing to break up fights and disagreements between dogs. It is quite clear to me that those dogs were fighting somewhat. It can be very hard to stop to dogs fighting with your bare hands.

Thank God someone speaks some sense!!!!!
I can imagine that if HM had caught the dogs fighting when they were supposed to be working they would have got a belting as well!!!!
Personally, I'd like to know what photographers were doing on a private estate anyway. Arrest them for trespass & sue them for invasion of privacy (Off with their Heads)

 

[Duchess]

if i'm not mistaken, parts of sandringham are accessible by the public but that aside, photographers use very high powered zoom lenses and these photos were obviously taken from a considerable distance

 

[Skydragon]

Thank God someone speaks some sense!!!!!

I very much doubt god in any way, shape or form, has anything to do with it

I can imagine that if HM had caught the dogs fighting when they were supposed to be working they would have got a belting as well!!!!

Not everyone believes in beating a dog into submission as you appear to and I can't imagine HM being of such a violent nature either. It is cruel and shows a poorly trained animal, which if these are the methods employed by Edward, does not surprise me!

They were not fighting, they were both pulling at the same bird according to the articles and the news reports here in the UK. There is a difference!

 

[Bella]

The fact of the matter is that none of us were there. A picture(s) don't always give the entire story. I'm not saying Prince Edward is above exhibiting very bad treatment of an animal but I can't imagine any members of the BRF would abuse an animal. They were all raised with animals and HM has an obvious strong affection for them, esp. her dogs and horses. Her love and affection of animals I'm sure has been passed along to her children and grandchildren. As someone who has had dogs all my life, I will agree that dog fights can be very vicious and dangerous. You have to be very careful in trying to separate them for fear of getting your fingers, hand or arm attacked. Waving a stick is not uncommon, if that is indeed all he did.

 

[Mermaid1962]

Exactly. If there was a picture of the stick making contact with a dog, you can bet it would be on the front page!

 

[Skydragon]

I will agree that dog fights can be very vicious and dangerous..

Unfortunately you, along with many others, do not appear to be reading the articles. The dogs were not fighting with one another, they were pulling the bird in separate directions i.e. fighting over it, not with each other.

As someone who has had dogs all my life

Then you will no doubt agree, that brandishing a stick at a dog is entirely different from slamming the stick down, with the apparent purpose of hitting the dog. The fact that he then went after the dog for another attempt plus the lack of denial (which they certainly did over Philips alleged cruelty), speaks volumes. many of the photographs show one dog in particular cowering, the actions of a creature that knows what is coming.

HM is hard working, that gene also seems to have passed her younger sons by.

 

[BeatrixFan]

What is the matter with Edward? He's always been a waste of time, all he seems to does is throw queeny strops and mince about the place as though he were God's gift. Ghastly little man.

 

[Bella]

I did read the articles and did mean that dog fights (obviously between dogs) could be vicious and dangersous. And I def agree that shaking a stick at fighting dogs is totally different than hitting the dog. I thought I expressed this in my post. We are on the same side on this one, please don't twist it into something it's not.

 

[Duchess]

perhaps prince edward would benefit from a lesson from cesar milan. actually, if this is how he tries to control the dog(s) then maybe several lessons would be a better idea.

 

[Kezza]

All Edward is guilty of is being a Royal, and if he is guilty of cruelty for waving or swiping a stick at his dog to stop them from having a disagreement. Then charge my family and I for the samething.

Those dogs are not traumatized you can see in one pic both dogs were wagging their tails once the dead bird had been picked up, in one piece still.

 

[BeatrixFan]

Guilty of being Royal? The Queen's Royal, she doesn't act like a moron though.

 

[sophie25]

I do not shoot myself but my father-in-law does and he told me that even if Edward didn't strike the dogs the whole act of raising his stick was inappropriate. When I asked why he said that a fearful dog will always be too nervous to be much use in the field and when I showed him pics of Edward and his antics I could see he was unhappy to say the least. "That dog is terrified!" he said on the last picture and said it didn't matter that the dog hadn't actually been struck but that it had been threatend.

 

[Al_bina]

Right you, Kezza. We do not know what exactly prompted Prince Edward to swipe a stick at his dogs. He made a decision to do so by taking all factors into consideration. At the same time, it is really unpleasant to see the animal rights activists going overboard in cases such as this one.

 

[Skydragon]

Sorry Bella, I must have misunderstood your post.
---------------
It just annoys me that apart from anything else, the 'there are no pictures showing the dog had been hit', is beside the point. Just because Edward is a rotten shot, did not stop him from trying, imagine if he had broken it's back or smashed it's skull, I also wonder what treatment it will receive back in the kennels.

if he is guilty of cruelty for waving or swiping a stick at his dog to stop them from having a disagreement. Then charge my family and I for the samething.

In this country you quite possibly would be, if caught on camera or reported! I say again - The dogs were not having a disagreement, they were not fighting with one another, they were pulling at the same bird, not one another.

 

[Skydragon]

We do not know what exactly prompted Prince Edward to swipe a stick at his dogs. He made a decision to do so by considering the situation

I don't think any consideration went into it, it rather seems as if he had a temper tantrum!

At the same time, it is really unpleasant to see the animal rights activists going overboard in cases such as this one.

I haven't read any articles from any animal rights activists, perhaps you would care to post some links?

 

[Al_bina]

The groups mentioned in the Daily Mail article are Animal Aid and League Against Cruel Sports. Now the serious investigation will be launched.

... Andrew Tyler, director of pressure group Animal Aid, said: ‘Hitting out at a dog makes them fearful, traumatised and breaks any bond of trust. It’s not only morally dubious but it’s counterproductive.
'If Prince Edward made contact with either dog, it is a breach of the Animal Welfare Act, which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal.’

Barry Hugill, from the League Against Cruel Sports, said: ‘I would not be at all surprised about Prince Edward mistreating a dog. This is a young man who has been brought up to regard it as his right to slaughter and mistreat animals for pleasure.’

 

[Skydragon]

The groups mentioned in the Daily Mail article is Animal Aid and League Against Cruel Sports. Now the serious investigation will be launched.

They are not 'animal activist organisations, they are both animal welfare organisations! Now if you want activists, wait till PETA have commented!

 

[Al_bina]

I see no big difference between PETA and the other organisations, whose major aim is to protect animal welfare. Personally I think that the whole situation has been blown out of proportions.

 

[Bella]

You're so right, Sky. Actually, the more info. that comes out the more I'm starting to believe he was having a typical tantrum and the unfortunate dog took the brunt. He's sketchy anyhow.

 

[MARG]

What is the matter with Edward? He's always been a waste of time, all he seems to does is throw queeny strops and mince about the place as though he were God's gift. Ghastly little man.

You have it in a nutshell!

I have to admit that the absence of a shot of him actually hitting the dog leads me to suspect he didn't. It would have been full front page tabloid fodder, and half page in the serious rags.

That being said, I believe he is a sniveling coward to abuse and terrorise the dogs in any way. He obviously lost the plot, blamed the dogs and had a hissy fit, which would be really funny if he hadn't terrorised the dogs.

Anger breeds terror, terror causes dogs to revert to survival mode and bite back. In this case I hope his butt is on the receiving end.

And believe me, dogs have very long memories . . . . .

 

[Kezza]

Those dogs were having a disagreement i've seen that bodylanguage displayed by those dogs in my dogs when they have arguements.
As far as i'm concern he has done nothing that I have not done or my my family have not done before with our dogs. If he wasn't a member of the Royal Family no-one would know or give a rats about it.