With the festive season just around the corner, Roodepoort Police have once again urged the community to remain on guard against dog poisoning. They also stressed the importance of reporting such incidents to police. Once reported, police can then investigate the scene.
Dog owners are advised to walk through their property and get rid of any strange objects found in the yard and on the sidewalk. Another tip police gave was that if residents notice any strangers on foot or in unknown vehicles roaming their street and making frequent stops, they should contact the police for assistance.
Linda Scrace from Friends of Rescued Animals (Fora) confirmed that there was an increase in dog poisonings and reports of such incidents this year.
“It is because people expect their dogs to be their home security systems and criminals target them first.
Criminals will poison a dog and then return to burgle the house at a later time. Once the lights go off, you will not be able to tell what is happening to your dog until it’s too late. The best way to remedy this is to keep your dogs inside the house,” she said.
The most common poison being used is Aldicarb or Temik, also known as Two-Step. It’s a black or grey granular substance and is usually put in meat or bread. It paralyses all the animal’s muscles and leads to a traumatic death. Symptoms of poisoning are numerous, and include difficulty breathing, coughing up mucus, vomiting, convulsions and excessive salivation.
In cases of dog poisoning, owners are advised to keep themselves safe by avoiding contact with the dog’s saliva, bodily fluids or excrement. Be careful, as the dog is in distress and might show signs of aggression. The most important tip is to get the dog to the nearest veterinary facility immediately as many dogs die within 20 minutes.
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