Former MP Rupert Lowe Admits Having Labrador Shot at Gloucestershire Estate

Rupert Lowe, a former Reform UK MP now sitting as an Independent, admitted to having his 17-year-old Labrador, Cromwell, put down with a shotgun by his gamekeeper on his Gloucestershire estate due to the dog's severe infirmity and suffering. Lowe argued that this method was more humane than taking the dog to a vet, as animals can sense the vet's presence and panic, and praised the quickness and kindness of the act. He openly discussed the decision with fellow MPs, which sparked shock and debate in Westminster, with many colleagues considering it a cruel and outdated practice. Some MPs highlighted a cultural divide, suggesting that rural landowners may view euthanasia by shooting as an 'old money' approach no longer acceptable today. Animal welfare campaigners criticized the situation, pointing to gaps in legislation that allow individuals without proper expertise to determine what constitutes necessary harm to animals. Lowe described himself as a 'coward' for not carrying out the act personally, despite having friends who do so themselves, and buried Cromwell near his previous pets on the estate.