Linda wrote:
This morning my cat attacked a dove, the wing had been destroyed, I
believed the dove was dead. so I put it in a plastic bag.
Later in the morning my daughter went to put it in the bin!
Unfortunately it was alive. She screamed out to me.
I (deep breath) tried to wring it's neck, didn't work, so I hit it's
neck with a spade the sand was too soft. Finally on the paving it was
over. I can't stop crying. I just wish I could have done a quick job.
What's the quickest way to humanely do this?
I don't have a man in my life so I have to face this on my own...
Thankyou for your help
Linda Perth WA

Most of us don't have much practice killing things so when it becomes
necessary to dispatch small animals or birds or goldfish it can be a
problem. Lacking such practice swinging an implement accurately to do the
job in one hit can be hard. The answer is don't swing it, place it. Dig a
grave and place the bird in it. Take your spade and place the edge (your
spade does have sharp edge doesn't it) across the neck and then quickly
apply your best foot strongly as if you were cutting turf. Fill in the
hole. This will work first time every time and not leave a mess.

David