Local family distraught after dog poisoning
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
A FAMILY in Burnside have been left traumatised after their dogs were poisoned for the second time on Saturday night.
Donna Dawson from Burnside Park, contacted the Gazette after police said they are powerless to act as no dog has died, she said: "This is the second time our dogs have been targeted and I just don't know where to turn."
"When this happened the first time we took the dogs to the vet and I was shocked when he told me they had been poisoned. I just couldn't believe somebody could be that cruel."
After an over night stay in the vets, the family dogs, Molly, a Jack Russell and Casey, a Collie returned to the family home. However both Molly and Casey were taken to the vets again on Sunday.
Donna went to the police but was soon told they could not do anything, she added: "We went to the police thinking they could take action because somebody was trying to kill our pets.
"They said they were unable to take any action unless one of the dog dies or my children gets poisoned.
"I can't believe no action can be taken until something drastic happens, by then one of my dogs will be dead or even worse my children could be ill."
Donna has two young children, a two year old girl and a nine month old baby girl and she believes whoever is poisoning her dogs are putting these girl's lives at risk, she said: "My oldest child who regularly plays out the back garden is very inquisitive and she could pick whatever is being thrown over the fence into her mouth?
"My dogs being poisoned is awful but I couldn't bare it if anything happened to my children.
Mrs Dawson received four complaints of dog barking last year, however she spoke to her neighbour's who said they had no problem with noise from the dogs. "I asked my neighbour's if my dogs were too loud or if they had any problems with them and every one of them said my dogs were fine.
"I hoped that would be the end of it, I never believed it could get this malicious.
"The attacks are vicious and whoever is behind them obviously do not take into consideration the consequences of their actions.
“I can't understand why somebody would actually want to kill my dogs. I don't know when this is going to end?
Police advised Donna setting up a video camera may be the best course of action, she added: "It's a possibility and might deter whoever is doing this.
“I would rather this would just stop before something serious happens.
As we spoke Mrs Dawson was awaiting word from the vet on whether the decision had been made to put down their four year old Collie Casey. "We took the dogs to the vet after we noticed they were both disorientated on Sunday afternoon.
"I am waiting on the vet to call me as he said Casey is in a coma and it might be better just to put her out of her misery."
