We were shocked to learn that RSPCA trainee inspectors are STILL practising their shooting skills on living, sentient animals. It is cruel to both man and beast.. With such outdated and inhumane training for inspectors, we wonder if the following procedure (so vividly described by an inspector 10 years ago) is also STILL included in the training.

"We were taken to a local society animal home, here we were to be shown by the local Inspector a practical demonstration in the killing of dogs by a .32 pistol. Myself and colleagues witnessed the Inspector place dog food on the ground. He then returned with a brown mongrel dog from the kennel held on a grasper. The dog was wagging its tail obviously in a state of excitement having been freed from the confines of its kennel. The dog instinctively bent its head to eat the meat laid in front of him. At this exact point, the Inspector shot the animal in the top of its head. The dog dropped instantly with thick blood coming from its mouth, ears and nose, smoke was seen coming from the hole now in the animals head. This exercise was repeated again with another dog to demonstrate the effectiveness of the guns that were later to be included in our equipment. These two healthy dogs were destroyed because the kennels were full and no homes" could be found. This exercise shocked myself and colleagues, one who had served several years in the army had to turn away in a flood of tears."