It should have flown away! Politician found it amusing when his off-the-lead dog killed goose in London park

                                        

Greylag Goose - common species in many parks

IF a senior politician allowed his off-the-lead dog to savage a goose to death, there would today be a public outcry.

But leaf back to April 6, 1996, when just such an incident occurred while Roy Hattersley, deputy leader of the Labour Party under Neil Kinnock, was walking Buster, his German Shepherd-Staffordshire bull terrier  cross, in London's St James Park.

In view of passers-by, Buster - an adoptee from the Brent Animal Centre  - seized a greylag Goose in its jaws and killed it.

There was not a whisper of anger from anyone.

The incident was noted by police, and Hattersley, who died earlier this week aged 93, was subsequently prosecuted and  fined £75 by magistrates.

But later, he made light of the incident, expressing no regret and blaming the goose for not flying away.

Later, the politician made capital of the episode, referring to it in a book called Buster's Diary which sought to present a light-hearted dog's-eye view of life.

The section reads: "I was not alone in the rhododendrons for long.

"Suddenly a goose appeared.

"Geese are supposed to be frightened by dogs and fly away, but this one barely seemed to notice that I was there.

"It just fluttered its wings a bit and went on pecking the ground.

"Naturally, I was offended so I gave it a nip on the back of the neck.

"It waddled off and I went into my stalking mode, but, when it flopped over the fence between the park and the pond, I lost interest."

Some time later, Hattersley - and Buster - accepted an invitation to open a new police station in the same park.

                                  

The former politician regarded the incident as matter for humour