More than 20 dogs have been poisoned in Colenso from the end of last year up until now.
Devastated and angry residents are up in arms about this criminal activity that is taking place.
A Ladysmith Gazette journalist went out to Colenso and spoke to the families whose dogs were poisoned.
Residents living in Circle Road are traumatised, as they say the street is now practically abandoned, with only a handful of dogs left.
Many dogs have fallen victim to what has been described as a fast-acting poison.
Some of the residents noticed pieces of half-eaten meat in their yard, which they say their dogs must have consumed and then died.
“We loved our dogs, we looked after them, and showed them plenty of love and attention. Now a cruel act like this has taken our animals’ lives so ruthlessly. It’s difficult to comprehend,” said one family member.
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Mrs Spanner, who lives in Circle Road, is devastated after also losing a few of her dogs to poisoning over the last few months.
“Not only are our dogs our best friends, but they also protect our homes. Now we are not only heartbroken but also scared that our houses will get broken into without any dogs to bark and warn us of danger.
“I remember one morning I got up and found one of my dogs vomiting; his tongue was blue. I gave him almost two litres of milk to drink, which he consumed, but it didn’t help and he died a few hours later,” explained Mrs Spanner.
She added that her children were also traumatised when the dog died, because they were all so close. The same day, they buried him in her backyard.
Every time they get a new dog, it gets poisoned and dies a slow and painful death.
Another resident has complained to Colenso police, as no less than six of her dogs have died within this year.
The police evidently told her that they would increase visible policing in the area and would keep an eye on activities in Circle Road, but this problem still persists.
“What is frustrating is that we keep our dogs safely in our yards. Who then has the right to poison them?” said another concerned resident.
A further concern is that there is a park in the same street and people feel it is unsafe for their children to play in this area. Parents are terrified that their children may consume meat or sweets containing poison.
Annamarie Koen from the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) commented that offenders caught poisoning animals will face criminal charges. She also warns all dog owners to be watchful of what is thrown into their yards and also what their pets are eating.
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