Poisoner sought after series of dog deaths in Blackburn (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Poisoner sought after series of dog deaths in Blackburn
11:00am Saturday 23rd February 2013 in Blackburn
A POISONER is being sought after four dogs died following walks along a canal towpath.
Officers said the animals, including a Jack Russell and a chocolate labrador, died over a four day period after being exercised along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Blackburn.
One line of inquiry is that food laced with poison had been placed on the towpath in retaliation to a growing problem with dog faeces being left by pet owners, police said.
The investigation is also looking into the posibility the poison could have been illegally placed along the one-mile stretch of the canal between Beechwood Bridge and the old disused railway bridge at Feniscowles because of a rodent problem.
Carol McNaboe, 64, of Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn believes her normally fit and healthy 13-year-old Jack Russell dog Trudy was killed by the poison.
The grandmother-of-two said: “My husband Pete takes the dogs out for a three-hour walk daily.
“Last week he decided to walk along the towpath so he could nip to the shop. When he came back Trudy kept being sick.
“We just thought she had eaten something she shouldn’t have and were planning to take her to the vet the next day.
“When we came down in the morning she was dead. It’s really heartbreaking as we have had Trudy since she was just five weeks old. She was a big part of our family.
“Whoever has done this needs to be caught.”
Representatives from Lancashire police, the Canals and Rivers Trust and the RSPCA are now looking into the issue.
Dog walker, Robert Allen, 50, of Langdale Road, Blackburn, said: “The dog walking fraternity in Feniscowles is currently terrified of walking down the canal towpath.
“Something needs to be done to make the area safe again.
“I think someone has done this because of the growing problems with dog muck in the area and that isn’t right.”
Householders in the Langdale Road area recently received a letter from Blackburn with Darwen Council urging dog owners to clean up after their pets.
Resident and dog owner Peter Clarkson said: “It’s awful news that dogs have been poisoned in the area.
“I am purposely keeping away from the canal towpath now just on the off chance there is poison still there. Since I have found out I’ve been watching my dog Elmo like a hawk because he has seemed a little under the weather, but I think he is fine now.
“I had noticed there had been a growing problem with dog mess in the area but for someone to do this in retaliation is just irresponsible.”
Teacher Maxine Smith, of Old Gates, Blackburn, said: “I heard there had been some issues with poison on the canal towpath so I have been steering clear.
“My puppy is in to everything so if there is poison in food or among food he is likely to eat it.
“I just hope the police find out who is behind it soon.”
Officers investigating the issue are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward. The last death reported to the police was on Sunday.
PC Russ Lambert said: “So far four dog deaths are being treated as suspicious and unexplained.
“We are looking into the possibility someone has deliberately poisoned them over concerns of excessive dog mess in the Feniscowles area.
“So far we are yet to speak to all the people involved but it would seem each of the dogs that have died have been walked along the canal towpath within a four day period.
“I have contacted the Canals and Rivers Trust and I will be making contact with a number of local vets to see if we can establish a cause of death.”
An RSPCA spokesman said: “It is every responsible owner’s nightmare for their pet to be poisoned.
“Poisoning can lead to horrible, slow and lingering deaths and cause much suffering to the animals.
“It is an issue the RSPCA takes very seriously and we urge anyone who suspects their animal may have been poisoned to take him or her to the vet so they can both check for evidence and ensure the animal is ok.”
A spokesman from the Canals and Rivers Trust said it would also be working with the police where necessary.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (35)
11:38am Sat 23 Feb 13
bigste says...
12:44pm Sat 23 Feb 13
darwenTower says...
It isn't the fault of the dogs and it's possible to end up harming the dog of an owner who *does* pick up after their pet.
12:47pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Fire Fly says...
2:28pm Sat 23 Feb 13
usinganame says...
Even worse, considering the jobs and positions some of them hold in society. Allowing them access to information under the data protection act and the criminal use thereof.
Like I said, if you are happy with this Telegraph then you only encourage it by inaction.
2:32pm Sat 23 Feb 13
usinganame says...
4:12pm Sat 23 Feb 13
frank says...
it's not the dogs fault but it's them that this 'person' is torturing and killing.
As for the offending dog owners it only costs a quid for a 100 or so nappy sacks to clean up , if thats too much to spend to be responsible then should you really have a dog?
5:40pm Sat 23 Feb 13
phil kernot says...
5:43pm Sat 23 Feb 13
JohnR1 says...
5:47pm Sat 23 Feb 13
phil kernot says...
5:56pm Sat 23 Feb 13
phil kernot says...
6:30pm Sat 23 Feb 13
A Darener says...
6:43pm Sat 23 Feb 13
ossym says...
Also of aggressive dog owners of aggressive dogs who just wish to intimidate or worse.
The law does not protect adequately, people just dont care.
if any good comes from this it may make owners take more care in future.
7:32pm Sat 23 Feb 13
HINZEY says...
8:50pm Sat 23 Feb 13
sen c b l says...
Its not a religious issue and has no relevance at all here but neglectful dog owners being questioned and in the spotight.
You don't have to be a faith believer to have some common sense, atleast a bit of good judgment should be sufficient.
Hope that's not too much to ask from you!
9:46am Sun 24 Feb 13
karen.pickles@sky.com says...
11:13am Sun 24 Feb 13
leelancs says...
2:06pm Sun 24 Feb 13
Darren1951 says...
2:20pm Sun 24 Feb 13
LiveseyBranchRover says...
3:31pm Sun 24 Feb 13
Darren1951 says...
6:25pm Sun 24 Feb 13
doomchanter says...
I know of a place we called dogsh*t alley as a child. I was pleased to see the effort that had been put in to cleaning the place up! dog litter bins galore.
Careful owners were picking their dogs mess up in the bags - and then flinging it into the bush - the local kids now call this the dogsh*t tree
Some things never change!
10:17pm Sun 24 Feb 13
district01 says...
Since when have faith believers had common sense?
Some faith believers believe that bleeding animals to death while they’re still alive is necessary. So let’s hope that if there is someone laying poison they soon gain enough common sense to realise that it’s just a cruel thing to do. For whatever reason!
1:27pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Joseph O'M says...
You fail to see presumably because you don't have a dog. I walk my dog exclusively on a lead, and a sniff of the ground very quickly can turn into your dog eating something - more often than not takeaway food thrown onto the ground by careless people who have little regard for their environment. I try and remove whatever she's eaten, but sometimes that can be quite tricky. I probably have more reason than most to hate dog muck as I spend hours each day walking my dog through areas where there are piles just left, waiting to be stood on. I always carry bags, always keep an eye on my dog, and always pick up. However, using this as an excuse to poison dogs is inexcusable - people should report dog fouling to the relevant authorities, not take the law into their own hands This person is a heartless sinister vigilante and whose actions shouldn't be applauded.
10:21pm Mon 25 Feb 13
sen c b l says...
11:23am Tue 26 Feb 13
district01 says...
. . . and you still eat meat?
12:37pm Tue 26 Feb 13
sen c b l says...
Probably you should seriously consider increasing your knowledge based on facts and evidence provided by personnels within the relevant business sector, and when you do your nightmares will become a terrifying reality.........and yes I really do enjoy my meat provided its not scandalous!!!
12:54pm Tue 26 Feb 13
district01 says...
2:31pm Tue 26 Feb 13
mavrick says...
4:53pm Tue 26 Feb 13
twostellas says...
8:37pm Tue 26 Feb 13
L0LLYP0P says...
Why don't the people who use the area get together Sunday armed with gloves & bags and have a mass clean up campaign . Come on folks have a little pride and clean it up:-).
No animal should suffer for human errors.
8:40pm Tue 26 Feb 13
A Darener says...
4:11am Thu 28 Feb 13
MR. ANON says...
11:04pm Fri 1 Mar 13
AndyW says...
Poison would probably be the least of his/her worries.
4:01pm Tue 5 Mar 13
drewster says...
4:04pm Tue 5 Mar 13
drewster says...
7:55am Wed 6 Mar 13
A Darener says...