Reported dog poisonings rise by over 70%

The number of dog poisonings reported to the RSPCA rose by 73 percent between 2012 and 2016.

In 2016 the charity logged 368 incidents of suspected dog poisoning, compared to 213 in 2012. The number continues to remain high. So far, in 2017, the RSPCA has received 244 reports between January 1 and August 31.

“Every year we receive a number of worrying reports by members of the public claiming people have left out meat laced with paracetamol in parks and that pets have been deliberately poisoned with antifreeze,” RSPCA welfare expert Alice Potter said.

“Reports of deliberate poisonings are extremely concerning but pets can also end up suffering from poisoning accidentally as many everyday substances and human foods can be extremely dangerous for our four-legged friends,” Alice added.

“Different substances can affect animals in different ways. Some symptoms can take days to appear so we’d advise anyone who is concerned that their pet may have been poisoned to contact their vet as soon as possible.

“Pet owners should be very careful and keep a close eye on what their pet may be eating or is able to get access to. And we’d also ask people to be careful when using substances to ensure that animals are not affected – slug pellets and antifreeze for example – and that substances are securely stored and properly disposed of, rather than dumping them on a roadside or in a park.”