Overview
- Lowe told MPs he asked his gamekeeper to shoot his 17-year-old Labrador, Cromwell, at his Gloucestershire estate after the dog lost the use of its hind legs.
- He defended the method as more humane, saying a home shotgun euthanasia would spare Cromwell the distress of a vet visit.
- Colleagues in Westminster reacted with shock and debate over whether shooting a pet in the field is acceptable or outdated.
- Animal Aid campaign manager Elizabeth Davenport warned that current UK laws allow unqualified individuals to decide on at-home pet euthanasia.
- The incident has drawn comparisons to South Dakota governor Kristi Noem’s own dog-shooting admission and intensified calls for clearer regulations.