Someone or something is harming dogs in South Delta, raising the alarm of residents on social media and Delta police.
The police confirm there have been three incidents of suspected dog poisonings since May in Ladner, which have either been reported to police or police have reached out to the owners after seeing posts on the Ladner’s Landing Facebook group.
DPD public affairs coordinator Cris Leykauf said the first incident occurred in mid-May on River Road.
“It appears to be an isolated incident, and it is unclear as to what caused the dog’s death in this case,” said Leykauf.
Another incident occurred in late May on 52A Street when a dog owned by June Mark was the victim of apparent poisoning.
The initial report was that someone might have laced hot dogs thrown into Mark’s backyard that Kleopatra ate, got very sick and subsequently died of kidney failure three days later.
“Investigators spoke with June and canvassed the neighbourhood,” added Leykauf. “Toxicology reports are being done because the dog may have ingested a poisonous plant, so we are still waiting for the results of tests to determine the cause of the dog’s death.”
A third incident recently came to police attention through social media where the pet owner also resides on 52A Street.
Kiana Mills wrote on Facebook that she had to rush her dog Butters to the vet after she was lethargic, her eyes were glazed over and she was unbalanced.
“The vet informed me that she had been poisoned or ate something that had drugs or poison in it,” said Mills. “She was only in our backyard in Ladner and walked around our complex near Save-on-Foods. She is only a little Pomeranian-Chihuahua cross. I was lucky to notice the signs right away and get her in.”
Mills said Butters is on the way to a full recovery.
Area resident Carrie Bee also posted in the Landing Facebook group last weekend that she had to take her dog Sadie to an emergency clinic in Langley where she was diagnosed with THC poisoning.
Bee suspects the dog ate a discarded marijuana cigarette while out walking in Ladner Village.
“We understand news of pets eating poisonous substances is upsetting and unsettling for the community. We appreciate the role of the media and social media in getting the word out to all pet owners to take appropriate precautions to safeguard their pets,” Leykauf said.
“At this point it is unclear what may have caused the poisonings. We simply don’t have enough information yet to point to any definitive cause. Should any pet owner suspect their pet may have been poisoned, we ask that you take them to the vet, and if the source seems suspicious, to contact police.”
