Search on for car thieves

Number of poisoned pets, stolen vehicles rises

WHILE the tally of stolen vehicles and poisoned pets continues to climb in Komani, the state veterinarian’s office has confirmed that the poison being used is an organophosphate, Terbifos, which is normally used as a pesticide.

To date, 20 dogs and two cats have been poisoned in residential areas in and around the town while six bakkies have been stolen.

The vehicles have been stolen in the Weshof and Komani Park residential areas and at Amberdale, the plots on the outskirts of town, since the start of the month.

In the latest incident, police spokesman Captain Namhla Mdleleni confirmed that police were investigating two cases of stolen vehicles and malicious damage to property after two vehicles were stolen at Bailley outside the town on Wednesday morning.

The owner had found that his two Isuzu bakkies – one white and one maroon – were missing when he woke up in the morning.

Three dogs had been poisoned and were found dead in the yard.

State vet Dr Alan Fisher confirmed yesterday that the results of post mortems conducted on some of the dogs had revealed that Terbifos had been used.

Fisher urged pet owners to try to keep their dogs closed in at night and to look out for any foodstuffs which may be thrown into yards.

“If an owner sees their pet ingesting these, the pet should be made to vomit by pouring salt water down its throat and then getting the animal to a vet as soon as possible.”

Fisher said some dogs had survived the poisonings, but that a large amount of poison was being used by the perpetrators, which was killing the animals within a short period of time.

Mdleleni said the police were extremely concerned about the number of vehicles that were being stolen in the area and the dogs that had been killed.

She appealed to the Komani community to call the police immediately when noting the presence of suspicious-looking people in their areas.

No arrests have yet been made for the theft or poisonings.

Drakensberg area police spokesman Captain Ursula Roelofse said two similar incidents had been reported in Aliwal North about two months ago.

One bakkie had been stolen, with an attempt to steal another. Three dogs had been poisoned in the process.

Oelofse said one arrest had subsequently been made and no further incidents had been reported.