Dog mum issues urgent warning after pet left fighting for life in Leicestershire town
A Market Harborough woman says more than a dozen pet owners have reported similar illnesses as Harborough District Council investigates concerns
A Leicestershire dog owner is warning residents to be vigilant after her pup was left fighting for its life – sparking a council investigation after reports of multiple pets falling ill.
Marie Connor has urged other dog owners to keep their eyes open after her two-and-a-half-year-old French Bulldog Mabel was left fighting for her life last week.
The 50-year-old told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that she took her dog to the vets last Wednesday (July 1) due to sickness and diarrhoea.
She said: “By Friday, she was really ill and was bleeding from her back end. She was bleeding out of everywhere basically.
“Her blood levels had dropped because she was internally bleeding and the vets were very concerned.
“We took her to Melton Mowbray pet hospital and they asked us not long after if we they should resuscitate. They feared there was nothing they could do”.
Ms Connor, who lives on Naseby Close in Market Harborough, made an appeal for blood donations on social media before she was inundated with reports that other dogs and cats had been suffering similar symptoms – but Mabel’s symptoms were “very extreme”.
She told the LDRS that 13 dogs and two cat owners reached out with similar problems – but neither of these reports had been sent to the council or the police – and is urging pet owners to report the incidents to the police.
Ms Connor later said that vets had no formal diagnosis about what caused Mabel’s extreme illness, but pet doctors had said that if she had ingested something, it would have left Mabel’s body quickly before and leaving behind “severe” damage.
She added: “The vets couldn’t really rule anything in or out. Mabel’s blood stopped clotting and that’s when she started to bleed out.
“Dogs have bruising, pale gums, and become anaemic.
“By the time symptoms become severe, and they do blood tests, it’s no longer in the system.
“It’s been a horrific experience”.
Ms Connor revealed that Mabel is currently stable and has spent nearly £5,000 on vet bills and is mostly covered by pet insurance – but has already exceeded her £4,000 limit on her policy.
She and her partner have launched a GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-mabel-vwtj6) to help pay for Mabel’s vet bills and has pledged that any extra money will go towards dog charities and pet blood banks.
She has also urged pet owners in and around Market Harborough to be vigilant and “be careful” while walking their dogs.
She added: “Enjoy your walks but watch what your dog is sniffing.
“A lot of dogs like Mabel will just eat anything she can get a hold of. But be mindful and watch out for symptoms like sickness and diarrhoea.
“Obviously, with the heat we’ve got now, it’s quite common, but you know your animal better than anyone, and if anything is wrong, don’t be afraid to take them to the vets”.
Market Harborough Cllr David Page, cabinet lead for neighbourhood services, said: “We are aware of concerns circulating on social media regarding reports that a number of dogs have become unwell in the Market Harborough area.
“At this stage, Harborough District Council is making enquiries and looking into any information and evidence that may be available. We are also liaising with relevant partners.
“We would urge anyone with first-hand information, evidence, or concerns about a suspected poisoning incident to report it directly to the council or Leicestershire Police. Reporting through the appropriate channels will help ensure that any information can be properly assessed and investigated.
“We understand this is concerning for pet owners and local residents. However, it is important that conclusions are not drawn until the facts have been established.
“Anyone wishing to report information to the council can contact our Community Safety Team at [email protected], while any suspected criminal activity should be reported to Leicestershire Police.”
The RSPCA also issued a statement saying it was “concerned” about reports of suspected poisonings.
A spokesperson said: “We’d encourage anyone with first-hand information which suggests this may have been deliberately to contact the council, the police or the RSPCA.
“We’d encourage local pet owners to keep an eye on the wellbeing of their animals and if they are showing symptoms of poisoning to seek veterinary treatment immediately.
“Signs can be seen anything from 30 minutes after an animal has ingested the chemical, though it can be two or three days before signs of kidney failure are seen. Symptoms can include one, or several, of the following – vomiting, seeming depressed or sleepy, appearing drunk and uncoordinated, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
“If you suspect your pet has been poisoned you should take them to a vet straight away, with a sample of what the animals has eaten/drunk, or the container, if possible.
“People should also take extra care when using any potential dangerous substances, such as antifreeze or slug pellets, to ensure that animals are not affected and that substances are stored appropriately and properly disposed of.
“Anyone who is found to have deliberately poisoned an animal can be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.”