Dog poisoning is escalating
MBOMBELA - A wave of dog poisoning incidents hit the city recently. The deaths of six dogs were reported by local security companies and veterinarians in the past two weeks.
The latest incident, which occurred in the Steiltes area, saw two beloved Jack Russells named Zoë and Biscuit die from suspected poisonings in the early hours of Friday August 26.
Zoë and Biscuit’s devastated owner,
Greg Weiss, said he is still mourning the loss of his treasured dogs and best friends, and he has been left heartbroken by the entire ordeal.
Weiss said both the dogs slept inside the house. It was around 02:00 on August 26 when he and his girlfriend woke up to them whining and acting strangely.
He said he then discovered two men outside his house trying to steal his bike, but luckily he had chained it to the wall.
Weiss immediately called Hi-Tech and said even though he is not a client of the security company, officers came out to his house and inspected the property.
“My whole apartment had a funny smell in it. We suspect that the intruders had sprayed something into the apartment as my girlfriend and I both felt extremely strange,” he said.
“Once the Hi-Tech guards had walked around the apartment to make sure everything was fine, we let the dogs out into the yard for a bit. We called them back inside after a short time for a treat, and that is when I noticed Zoë was not looking very well.
“She was shaking and in pain, and I suspected almost right away that she had been poisoned.
“We thought it was only Zoë who was poisoned, and we brought Biscuit along with us for the ride. A few minutes before we reached Van Wijk Street Animal Hospital, Zoë died.
“As we reached the vet and got out the car, I saw that Biscuit was sick as well.”
He said the vet did everything he could for Biscuit, but eventually Weiss said he took the decision to euthanise him.
“I saw he was suffering. I watched the way Zoë had died and I just did not want him to suffer through the same fate.
“Biscuit would have been three this November and Zoë turned two in July. I couldn’t have asked for better companions. They were both so special to us. All this feels like a dream. I need to constantly remind myself that they are really gone.
“Please be careful when letting your dogs out of the house after intruders were in your yard, or if you suspect that someone was there. It is the most horrific way to see your beloved pets die.”
Hi-Tech’s Frank Swanepoel said the security company received reports of six dogs being poisoned in three separate incidents around Mbombela in the past two weeks.
He said that in two of these incidents, motorcycles were stolen.
All six dogs died as a result of the poisoning.
West Acres Animal Hospital’s veterinarian, Dr Travis Kersten, said that while the hospital had only had two cases of dog poisoning in the last month, he was aware that the Van Wijk Street Animal Hospital had recently dealt with a case, too.
He said one of the incidents of poisoning brought to the attention of West Acres Animal Hospital occurred on a plot near Barberton and the second was in Schoemanskloof.
Both dogs survived, but were in need of intensive treatment.
“Dog poisoning happens in waves, it seems,” said Kersten.
“If someone suspects that their dog may have been poisoned, the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet as soon as you can. No home remedy will work on a poisoned dog. They will need treatment from a vet,” he said.
Securicon Lowveld’s Callum mac Pherson said he was also aware of the reported poisoning incidents and urged the public to get their pet to a vet immediately if they suspect poisoning.
“Extreme salivation, shivering and diarrhoea are strong indications of poisoning. If you think your pet has been poisoned, do not pick them up or touch them without gloves, as often the poison can be absorbed through human skin. Wrap your dog in blankets,” he said.