‘Dog poisoning incidents on the increase’
Security company speaks about the increase in dog poisonings in Gauteng.
There has been a worrying spike in the number of dog poisoning incidents across Gauteng recently and dog owners are advised to be cautious, warned security company, Fidelity ADT.
As far as Randfontein is concerned, the Herald reported last week on a family in Eikepark that was shocked to find their beloved Jack Russell’s head lying next to its body early on Tuesday, 14 May. According to Alida Viljoen, the body and decapitated head of their pet dog, Fluffy, were found by her 20-year-old daughter just before 7am. The incident was reported to the SPCA as well as the Randfontein Police.
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During April, numerous dogs were poisoned on plots around Randfontein. This, plus the news of the beheaded dog, caused great concern in the whole town. Last week’s #WisdomWednesday featured an interview the Herald had with the Castaways Animal Sanctuary on the subject of animal safety.
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“Residents need to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or vehicles seen in the area to either a security company or the police. Usually we see a spate of house robberies following incidents of dog poisonings, so we all need to work together to ensure these properties are secure,” said Charnel Hattingh, Marketing Manager for Fidelity ADT.
She added that they approached Dr Hannekom at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital to provide homeowners with some advice on what to do if they believe their pet may have been poisoned. He advised the following:
• If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, please take it to a vet immediately. Owners try to treat animals themselves, but it is always better to seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible
• Signs will vary depending on the type of poison swallowed. They can be as mild as lethargy, malaise, and weakness to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, and nausea. More severe signs can include agitation, twitching, seizures, or even a coma
• If your pet has started vomiting, gather a sample of it in a plastic bag and take it with you to your vet immediately. It may be used for testing and analysis. Do not induce vomiting without consulting a vet
• Try to stay calm and move your dog to a safe area. Check whether your dog is breathing – if it is not, you may need to perform CPR before taking it to the vet
• If your dog begins to convulse, move it to a safe area where it won’t cause injury to itself
• Aldicarb, also known as Two-Step or Temik, is the most commonly used poison. It looks like little black poppy seeds and is granular in appearance. It is highly toxic, and should not be touched with bare hands – wear gloves when removing the poison from your property. Criminals usually hide it in meat so that dogs consume it.
The bottom line is you need to get your pet to a veterinary specialist as soon as possible in the event of any possible poisoning, said Charnel. She added that it is vital that any incidents of dog poisonings are reported to the police immediately.
“All poison cases must be reported to the local police with a request for them to investigate the case and remove any suspected poison residues/ bait from your property. A poisoning incident is a crime and should therefore always be reported.”
