Categories: PETS

Animal Welfare Society warns public after dog ingests drug-tainted faeces

Animal Welfare Society of SA (AWS SA) is warning pet owners to be extra vigilant when walking their pets in public spaces following the discovery of multiple alleged incidents of dogs being poisoned by traces of what appears to be drugs found in various parks across the city.

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The most recent incident occurred earlier this month and resulted in a dog being hospitalised.

The dog’s owner was forced to rush her seven-month-old dog, Larry, to the vet after he allegedly accidentally ingested drug-tainted human faeces discovered in a flower bed along a sidewalk in Claremont while out for a walk.

‘She claims that Larry was totally “spaced out” shortly after they got home and quickly deteriorated to the point where he needed emergency veterinary treatment for suspected poisoning,’ said AWS SA in a Facebook post.

‘That evening, Larry had a nerve-wracking repeat episode,’ AWS SA added. ‘He was totally paranoid, unsettled, behaving erratically and his heart racing.’

The vet that had attended to Larry strongly suspected that the ingested faeces contained traces of tik or a similar substance.

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The owner told AWS SA that her sister – a qualified animal behaviourist who walks a few groups of dogs at the Glen in Camps Bay – experienced two similar incidents with her own dog.

She also established that there have been other incidents at Keurboom Park and the Rondebosch Common – both popular dog walking locations.

Larry reportedly made a full recovery. His owner, however, describes the incident as very scary and plans to have a ready supply of activated charcoal on hand to render emergency first aid going forward.

Picture: Animal Welfare Society of SA / Facebook

According to the animal welfare organisation, Larry’s owner hopes to warn other dog owners of these incidents, given the ‘sheer amount of displaced people’ sleeping in public spaces with substance dependencies and little to no access to ablution facilities.

‘Drug-tainted human “poop” is not uncommon and we urge all pet owners to be extra vigilant when out for a stroll with their dogs, especially in parks and other public places frequented by drug users and other undesirables who defecate in the bushes and have no qualms about discarding their toxic drug paraphernalia in flower beds and other areas easily accessible to pets,’ said AWS SA spokesperson Allan Perrins.

‘Our hospital is well versed in successfully treating poisoned pets and anyone who suspects that their pet may have ingested poison or any other toxic substance should seek immediate veterinary help by calling our hospital on 021 692 2626 or emergency after hours nurses on 082 601 1761,’ the post concluded.