Poison in our parks warning

Ball was contaminated

A tennis ball found by a dog in King’s Park is believed to have contained a large dose of rat poison.

After “violently vomiting,” the Staffordshire bull terrier was placed on a drip and was in a serious condition with local vets.

Police confirmed that an enquiry had been launched following the latest incident.

“We can confirm at around 1.30pm on Tuesday, February 6 that police received reports that a dog had taken unwell after picking up a tennis ball that may have been poisoned,” a spokesman for Police Scotland said.

“Police are making inquires surrounding the circumstances.”

The dog walker spoke about the recent incident that has made her 10-yearold terrier so ill.

She said: “I had Oscar out for his morning walk as usual and he picked up a ball that had been left in the park.

“A woman saw it, ran over and took the ball off him, screaming to get him to drop it. I thought it was her ball, but she explained what was going on. Apparently there is loads of them all over.

“It could have been a lot worse if that woman hadn’t warned me.

“I would have been touching it too, so it’s not just dogs at risk.”

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “This is very disturbing. We have advised our operatives to be vigilant and to report anything untoward.

“We also ask the public, particularly dog walkers who frequent our parks, to keep an eye out for anything suspicious and report it to the relevant authority.”

The Scottish SPCA have not had the incident reported but its chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “All legal poisons are supplied with strict guidelines for use and anyone who sets a poison without following the guidelines is committing an offence.

“Anyone who believes their dog may have ingested a poisonous substance should seek immediate veterinary attention.”

The incident took place almost exactly a year after a dog walker in Overtoun Park said he had found poison pellets there.

Robert Cumberland discovered them while out walking his black Labrador Eva.

And last month a puppy ended up in intensive care.

Owner Laura Senior rushed Archie to the vets after he became ill. She fears he may have picked up poison-laced food dumped either in Pollok or Linn Park.

Apparently there is loads all over