Heartbreak after family cats die of poisoning
A BREAST cancer survivor has spoken of her horror and anguish after four of her beloved cats died of antifreeze poisoning just weeks apart.
Arwen Davies, who lives with her three children in Southport, is convinced their cat and brood of three kittens were deliberately poisoned after eating contaminated food which was either thrown or left in their garden.
An investigation by vets confirmed the 45-yearold’s pets had died as a result of ingesting ethylene-glycol – the ingredient commonly found in antifreeze.
And Arwen fears she may not be the only victim as there have been other reports – on social media and on Facebook groups – of pets, including dogs, being poisoned in and around the Southport area.
She said: “I’m absolutely devastated. I’m such a cat lover and to me they were part of the family. All four of them died within a four-week period and had the same symptoms, with three different vets confirming it was antifreeze poisoning.
“By the time I got the cats to the vets it had gone too far and they had to be put to sleep.
“Two other cats that live close to me have been absolutely fine and it feels like this is being targeted against myself.
“It’s my belief that somebody’s thrown something over my fence.”
Arwen’s dad, Del Breingan, said: “My daughter has only lived there for a year.
“She brought one cat with her and then had three kittens to look after. They were all happy going in and out, then all of a sudden they just died terrible deaths after a year.
“She’s absolutely devastated. They were like her children.
“The vets’ fees alone have cost a fortune and she misses them terribly.
“We’ve contacted the RSPCA but she’s been told by police they can’t do anything unless there is video evidence.”
Common signs of poisoning can include one, or several of the following: vomiting, seeming depressed or sleepy, appearing drunk and uncoordinated, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA confirmed the incident had been reported to them and was being looked into, adding: “Many different substances can poison pets so it is beneficial for pet owners to be aware of the signs of poisoning so they can ensure they take their animals to a vet immediately.
“It is beneficial to confirm which poisoning is responsible to increase the chance of locating the source so other pets and animals in the local area can be protected.
“It is always difficult to determine if cases are accidental incidents or deliberate, however, poisoning an animal deliberately is a criminal offence.
“Signs of poisoning can be seen anything from 30 minutes after an animal has ingested the chemical, though it can be two or three days before signs of kidney failure are seen.
“If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned you must take it to a vet immediately. If possible, you should take a sample of what they have eaten/ drunk, or the container.”
Anyone with any information relating to poisoning should contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.