Six arrested over dog poisonings
Hunters linked to recent dog deaths in several towns
THE GUARDIA Civil is investigating a possible relationship between six hunters and the recent wave of dog poisonings in rural areas of Benissa, Teulada and Calpe in recent months.
Seprona, the nature protection service of the Guardia Civil, are now awaiting results of laboratory tests to see if the suspect poison seized is an exact match to that of the one that has killed an unknown amount of pets and wild animals.
The hunters were arrested after an exhaustive investigation. Agents collected data taking biological samples from the deceased animals, and eventually located the poison using a specialist dog from Madrid, who was trained in detecting the type of bait used.
The investigation took the agents to four small huts, three in Benissa and one in Teulada, whose owners were linked to hunting. In all of the huts, they found hidden insecticides, which were not authorised, and out of date.
They were of high toxicity and lethal, the most prominent being Aldicarb, the exposure of which gives rise to symptoms similar to those described by the owners of the poisoned dogs. Just 1.5 grams of Aldicarb has the ability to kill 500 foxes.
In addition, several forbidden animal traps were discovered in the huts for hunting use, wild birds, and up to 51 hunting dogs (one of a dangerous breed), who were unvaccinated and not micro chipped.
As investigations continued into the source of the poison, Seprona and the Ministry of Agriculture raided an illegal establishment in Benissa, where they found unauthorised pesticides for sale, which were both highly toxic, and again out of date.
According to complaints filed with the Guardia between March and April of this year, at least nine dogs were killed and another five survived, although the figures could be much higher because of owners either not reporting an incident or thinking they had lost their pet.
Seprona are continuing their investigations, and the possibility is that six arrested will be charged with offences related to the poisonings and the protection of flora and fauna. This depends on the analysis results of the substances seized.