A WARNING has been issued after a family’s beloved dog was poisoned in a park popular with walkers.
Elaine Howarth’s 13-year-old Jack Russell, Strife, was on her usual afternoon stroll around Royston Park last Wednesday at around 3.30pm.
“We always walk on our usual route in the park and I was sat down in the shade while Strife was being her usual inquisitive self,” Elaine, of Park View, Royston, said.
“I turned to her and noticed she had something in her mouth but by the time I’d got to where she was, she’d swallowed whatever it was.”
Having shown no signs of being ill on the walk home, Strife’s condition deteriorated at around 8pm - the first time she was sick.
As she didn’t improve overnight, vets gave Strife an injection and a course of antibiotics, but Elaine, 69, decided on taking her to the PDSA for another opinion after her beloved dog displayed worrying behaviour.
“She had her teeth clenched so I just knew something wasn’t right,” Elaine added. “We were on our way to the PDSA but she died in the car.”
It’s the latest suspected poisoning to take place in the village after reports were made on social media that the Trans Pennine Trail, near Church Street, was also a location where poisoned morsels of food had been left.
The matter is set to be discussed at the village’s next PACT meeting - which sees local crime discussed by police and council bosses - on July 24.
Elaine said: “I’d just like dog owners to be careful - no post mortem was carried out on Strife but I’m certain it was caused by what she had eaten in the park.
“When she was sick later on it looked like a piece of bread, so I want people to watch out as our family has lost a dog we loved in terrible circumstances.
“One minute she was fine, enjoying her walk, and hours later she was dying.”
