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| Heseltine: I did not kill my mother's Alsatian | Heseltine: I did not kill my mother's Alsatian |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Lord Heseltine says it was a "terrible misrepresentation" to say he killed his mother's pet dog, an Alsatian called Kim, after it started biting him. | Lord Heseltine says it was a "terrible misrepresentation" to say he killed his mother's pet dog, an Alsatian called Kim, after it started biting him. |
| He told Tatler magazine the animal had a "mental breakdown", so he grabbed it by the "choker chain - and pulled it tight" until "he went limp". | He told Tatler magazine the animal had a "mental breakdown", so he grabbed it by the "choker chain - and pulled it tight" until "he went limp". |
| The ex-deputy PM clarified to the BBC that Kim had not died but reverted to being "the dog we all knew and loved". | The ex-deputy PM clarified to the BBC that Kim had not died but reverted to being "the dog we all knew and loved". |
| He had a "terrible dilemma" but had him put down the next day, he added. | He had a "terrible dilemma" but had him put down the next day, he added. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, Lord Heseltine said he had been minding Kim one day in 1964 when the dog appeared to have developed a problem with its paw. | |
| He said when he reached down to help, "the dog flew at me... on his hind legs". | He said when he reached down to help, "the dog flew at me... on his hind legs". |
| 'No choice' | 'No choice' |
| "I immediately got out of my chair," he added, "and there was a certain amount of blood, as he was biting my wrists. I shouted to my wife to get out of the room as she was heavily pregnant at the time. | "I immediately got out of my chair," he added, "and there was a certain amount of blood, as he was biting my wrists. I shouted to my wife to get out of the room as she was heavily pregnant at the time. |
| "I managed to catch the choker chain that was around his neck and, twisting that, obviously got a grip on the dog. | "I managed to catch the choker chain that was around his neck and, twisting that, obviously got a grip on the dog. |
| "After, it all seemed so long in the event but it probably wasn't more than 15 seconds, he went quite limp and reverted to being the dog we all knew and loved." | "After, it all seemed so long in the event but it probably wasn't more than 15 seconds, he went quite limp and reverted to being the dog we all knew and loved." |
| Lord Heseltine said the incident had left him with a "most awful dilemma" about what to do with Kim. | Lord Heseltine said the incident had left him with a "most awful dilemma" about what to do with Kim. |
| "We had to talk to the vet," he said. "There isn't any choice. Frankly, you cannot have your wife left alone in a flat or my mother when she came back with an Alsatian that can go berserk." | "We had to talk to the vet," he said. "There isn't any choice. Frankly, you cannot have your wife left alone in a flat or my mother when she came back with an Alsatian that can go berserk." |
| Stories involving an altercation between Lord Heseltine and a dog have been in circulation at Westminster for decades. | Stories involving an altercation between Lord Heseltine and a dog have been in circulation at Westminster for decades. |
| In 1990, when he was running to be leader of the Conservative Party, the Observer newspaper mentioned a rumour "in which Heseltine allegedly strangled his own pet at a party", but this was dismissed by one of his biographers as "journalists' exaggeration". | In 1990, when he was running to be leader of the Conservative Party, the Observer newspaper mentioned a rumour "in which Heseltine allegedly strangled his own pet at a party", but this was dismissed by one of his biographers as "journalists' exaggeration". |
| Asked about a similar story, in which he was said to have killed a dog with his bare hands after it attacked a child, Lord Heseltine told Tatler about Kim instead, leading to misplaced speculation on social media that he had killed - rather than disables - it. | Asked about a similar story, in which he was said to have killed a dog with his bare hands after it attacked a child, Lord Heseltine told Tatler about Kim instead, leading to misplaced speculation on social media that he had killed - rather than disables - it. |
| Shot squirrels | Shot squirrels |
| An RSPCA spokesman said the organisation "can only investigate and prosecute summary-only offences - like those under the Animal Welfare Act - within three years of that alleged offence being committed". | An RSPCA spokesman said the organisation "can only investigate and prosecute summary-only offences - like those under the Animal Welfare Act - within three years of that alleged offence being committed". |
| "There is no rule that says a dog should automatically be put to sleep if it bites someone," he added. "If you are concerned about your dog's behaviour, the RSPCA would advise that you seek expert advice. | "There is no rule that says a dog should automatically be put to sleep if it bites someone," he added. "If you are concerned about your dog's behaviour, the RSPCA would advise that you seek expert advice. |
| "It is important to get your pet checked by a vet, as the dog may have become aggressive due to being in pain. If a vet rules out any form of illness or injury that could be causing the issue, they can then refer you to a behaviour expert for further help." | "It is important to get your pet checked by a vet, as the dog may have become aggressive due to being in pain. If a vet rules out any form of illness or injury that could be causing the issue, they can then refer you to a behaviour expert for further help." |
| Earlier this month, Lord Heseltine revealed he had shot 350 grey squirrels in six months at his home in Northamptonshire. | Earlier this month, Lord Heseltine revealed he had shot 350 grey squirrels in six months at his home in Northamptonshire. |
| The 83-year-old was deputy prime minister from 1995 to 1997, having previously served as defence secretary, environment secretary and president of the Board of Trade. | The 83-year-old was deputy prime minister from 1995 to 1997, having previously served as defence secretary, environment secretary and president of the Board of Trade. |