I READ in The Northern Echo about two Durham Police firearms officers who have been disciplined for killing a wounded deer with a blunt instrument (Echo, Jan 23).

The story made me wonder who should be dispatching wounded animals like this unfortunate deer.

I am sure armed response police should not be putting down wild animals unless they are a danger to the public.

This deer was almost dead, apparently. The officers had shown real compassion earlier when they moved the stricken animal to a wood.

The weapons police would use are large calibre and very dangerous with the possibility that a discharge could produce a deadly ricochet. I feel that the grisly deed should have been carried out by a vet or the RSPCA using a humane killer such as a captive bolt gun.

About 40 years ago I was driving along Sunderland Road in Durham City when I had to overtake a lorry which was stopped in the middle of the road and as I passed I saw that a Lassie-type collie had been run over by the truck.

The poor animal had suffered appalling injuries. The truck driver had his head in his hands. However, the dog remained conscious and I will never forgive myself for not stopping and putting it out of its misery with my car's starting handle.

A vet would not have got near it and a shot would have been very dangerous.

Had I done so, however, I would now be known as the guy who beat a collie to death.

Nevertheless, it would have been the humane thing to do.

Malcolm Rolling, Durham.