Dog owners warned of ‘rampant’poisoning

The Brakpan SPCA has issued a warning to all residents to beware of rampant dog poisoning in all residential areas of the town.

The society advised residents to keep their dogs out of sight from the street, or in a backyard if possible, and to keep their animals indoors at night.

“Be vigilant with strange people in your area,” said Tanisha Fourie, from the Brakpan SPCA.

“Check your yards, before animals are let out in the morning and report anything suspicious to your local SAPS.”

The society offered the following tips:

What to do if your pet has been poisoned

* Induce vomiting with salt water and milk. The sooner you get the poison out of the animal’s system, or as much of it as possible, the better the chances.

* Immediately administer activated charcoal tablets and rush to a vet. These tablets are available at Pick n Pay and are not expensive. Every household with pets should have these tablets in their first aid kit.

* Should you have more than one animal and only one has ingested the poison, be cautious. Remove any vomit or residue so that the other animals do not ingest it.

What does the poison look like?

Aldicarb, which is better known as “Two Step”, looks like ground pepper or gunpowder granules.

These granules are put into any form of meat and usually thrown over walls and fences, thus targeting dogs visible from the street.

It is important to note that the SPCA can assist with the disposal of carcasses only if they are brought to their premises.

“We cannot, unfortunately, transport such carcasses, due to the biohazard involved,” said Fourie.

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s carcass removal department can be contacted on 011 740 0532 or 011 999 8663.

Contact the Brakpan SPCA on 011 742 2007.

Brakpan police confirmed that incidents of dog poisonings are on the rise, especially in the Brenthurst area.