This happened just down the road from me. Irrespective of what anyone else says or thinks, quite simply, the guy behind the trigger deserves to be hung out to dry for this. As responsible shooters we all know never to take a shot without a safe backstop and never to take a shot at something we cannot identify first. The idiot that shot this dog broke both those basic safety rules and as a result of his actions others are now suffering the consequences. As a shooting man I have three gundogs which get walked twice a day on a route that involves crossing my local golf course (not the same one) using a public bridleway, because of the hours I work this is done in the dark in the winter evenings. Several years ago I was part way across the course when a red lamp was shone on me from a vehicle which then started its engine and accelerated towards me at speed; I had a torch in my pocket which I put on as I knew straight away what the red lamp was. Shortly after a Landrover pulled up with no lights on and a chap driving it with a 22 stuck out of the drivers window, on top of the scope was... yes, you guessed, a red lamp! Realising I was not 'quarry' he started trying to chat to me about whether I saw many rabbits about... my reply had not a lot to do with rabbits and used quite a few words you don't normally hear in polite company! I pointed out that not only was I 'rather cross' to find he'd shone the light on me and the dogs from the top of a rifle but also that I was on a public right of way and that through the thin belt of trees behind me, which would have been his 'backstop' had he engaged a legitimate target at that location, was a main road with houses the other side. He was left in no uncertain terms as to how I felt about him and his only excuse was that he had only just 'taken on' this particular course and was 'getting to know it' - in other words he had not got any idea of the layout of the land, where it was safe to shoot and where it wasn't, that there were in fact two public rights of way crossing it, houses out of sight, etc. The following morning I spoke to the secretary of the Club and also to the Police, the former assured me they would not be allowing that pest controller on the course again, the Plod took a statement and I heard nothing more from them. Instead of a torch I now carry a Clulite with me and if there's any chance that someone's out with a gun (they stopped using a pest controller and now use staff but do allow several people with airguns to range about ad-hoc), they get the 'full beam' treatment right from the start and I don't give a monkey's if that spoils their nights sport. The actions of this irresponsible individual will have consequences on all of us, thank god it was 'only' a dog he shot!