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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/26/village-mourns-feathered-friend-reportedly-shot-dead
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| Villagers mourn goose shot dead in suspected drive-by attack | Villagers mourn goose shot dead in suspected drive-by attack |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| It’s an alleged drive-by shooting that has ruffled more than a few feathers in the sleepy village of Sandon. | |
| Now, after receiving reports that a much-loved local goose has been shot, Hertfordshire police plan to, if necessary, exhume its remains as part of their investigation. | Now, after receiving reports that a much-loved local goose has been shot, Hertfordshire police plan to, if necessary, exhume its remains as part of their investigation. |
| The constabulary sent officers to Sandon on Friday after receiving a report from a member of the public that the goose, which had lived on one of the village’s ponds since it hatched 11 years ago, had been killed. | The constabulary sent officers to Sandon on Friday after receiving a report from a member of the public that the goose, which had lived on one of the village’s ponds since it hatched 11 years ago, had been killed. |
| A police spokesman said they were investigating with the RSPCA, adding: “At the moment we cannot confirm if it has been shot or not because we would need a body to do that. | |
| “A lot of rumours have been going around, but if we are able to identify someone down the line then we would do a joint interview with the RSPCA.” | “A lot of rumours have been going around, but if we are able to identify someone down the line then we would do a joint interview with the RSPCA.” |
| The bird, said to have been a fixture of local life and which features on the parish council’s website, was reported to have been shot on the Rushden Road pond by a man who leaned out of a 4x4 vehicle and opened fire. | The bird, said to have been a fixture of local life and which features on the parish council’s website, was reported to have been shot on the Rushden Road pond by a man who leaned out of a 4x4 vehicle and opened fire. |
| Who #shot our #goose Part of sandon village life 4 years Shame on you mindless lads seen killing him from car window pic.twitter.com/2vnD71Oaf8 | Who #shot our #goose Part of sandon village life 4 years Shame on you mindless lads seen killing him from car window pic.twitter.com/2vnD71Oaf8 |
| Gay Ayton, a resident of the village, which has a population of about 200, told the Hertfordshire Mercury that she was appalled by the alleged killing, adding: “It’s really shocking. A lot of the villagers are feeling very sad – even though he was cursed as sometimes you couldn’t post a letter without a stick,” she said. | |
| “It’s spineless and so irritating. We’ve always had a goose. He was very protective of the ducklings.” | “It’s spineless and so irritating. We’ve always had a goose. He was very protective of the ducklings.” |
| The bird has reportedly been buried by the pond, while flowers have been placed inside a nearby phone box. | |
| Messages of sympathy have been left, including one in a child’s handwriting which read: “To dear old Mr Goose. I will miss seeing you. My mum said when you put your tongue out and [made] that hiss, it was coz you loved the duks and your home. | |
| “I liked that you was brave to help wot you love and helped the duks cross the road. don’t wurry me and my friends will look after them for you now.” | “I liked that you was brave to help wot you love and helped the duks cross the road. don’t wurry me and my friends will look after them for you now.” |