My understanding of dispatch is the finishing off of a wounded, injured, or ill animal as an act of mercy.
The word killing however can however be interpreted he more widely to include an animal that is otherwise healthy, for example to include slaughter for the purposes of home slaughter/butchery, or pest control as a 410 pistol is also permitted for (in and around farm buildings, release pens etc).
Ultimately a courts decision but in generality to licensing law, conditions should be clear, concise, enforceable. They’d be liable to look toward the common understanding of words as per dictionary definitions, unless otherwise justified.
I think "dispatch", "slaughter" and "killing" would be synonyms. They all can have "Humane" in front...and although we may often use "Humane dispatch" with injured or sick animals, "humane killing" or "mercy killing" are equally accurate and appropriate.
Slaughter we often use when referring to killing animals for food in an Abattoir or Slaughterhouse, but also for straightforward killing...
My FAC, which was conditioned when I was approved for the local Police HAD scheme, refers to the rifles and solid slug ammunition "...to which this certificate relates shall be used for the HUMANE SLAUGHTER of ANIMALS." there was never any intention that the RTC deer carcasses would be going into the food chain.
Big Mat wrote "Interestingly my firearms department don't let me have a humane dispatch condition on my rifles, apparently keeping livestock isn't s good enough reason."
I did the course and passed, even bought a 410 hushpower but was denied humane dispatch condition by my local Police, although they replied that I couldn't have 'Human Dispatch' LOL . Sold the 410 and bought a 20 gauge instead.
The humane dispatch condition is only relative to your rifles (and solid slugs) on your FAC...the shotguns do not need the condition.
Alan
