Police have appealed for witnesses after a bird was reportedly targeted with a catapult in Poole Park, prompting renewed concerns about animal cruelty and wildlife offences across Dorset.
Dorset Police said officers were called at around 4.05pm on Monday, 24 August, after reports that a group of young people were using catapults loaded with metal ball-bearings to target wildlife. Two 14-year-old boys from Bournemouth were arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, possessing a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place, and attempting to kill a wild bird. They have since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.
The incident is one of a number of recent cases in Dorset involving alleged cruelty, neglect or harm to animals.
Earlier this year, a North Dorset farmer was convicted of 19 animal welfare offences after more than 100 sheep were found in severely poor conditions. Dorset Council said 140 sheep were discovered on land near Ansty in January 2025, with little grazing available and no evidence of supplementary food. Many were emaciated, while 11 sheep had died. A lamb was found in a water-filled ditch and two ewes were close to death. One ewe had to be euthanised, while the lamb later died.
The farmer, Nigel Anthony Turner, of Ryme Intrinseca near Sherborne, pleaded guilty and was subsequently banned from keeping sheep. The case demonstrates that animal cruelty can involve prolonged neglect as well as deliberate acts of violence.
Another case involved a Weymouth man who was banned from keeping animals for five years after his dog, Harper, was found severely underweight and suffering from an apparent skin condition and unsuitable living conditions. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the RSPCA.
There have also been concerns over the treatment of wildlife. In August, Dorset Police announced that a man who filmed himself causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in Poole had been jailed. The footage had been posted in a hare coursing group on social media.
Dorset Police says animal cruelty can include physical violence, deliberate mental distress and neglect, while wildlife offences can include attacks on birds, badgers and bats, as well as illegal hunting and the use of poisons, snares or explosives.
The latest Poole incident highlights the importance of reporting suspected cruelty and wildlife crime. Anyone who witnessed the catapult incident is asked to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55260132209. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
With reports of cruelty and neglect continuing to concern animal welfare organisations, the message from authorities is clear: deliberate harm, reckless behaviour and failure to provide proper care can have serious consequences for animals and their owners.
