Police seize suspected rat poison in Isle of Wight after dogs fall ill
Numerous reports have been received by police of dogs falling ill after ingesting suspected rat poison
Police say they've received a number of reports of dogs falling ill after ingesting rat poison in an Isle of Wight forest.
Officers are currently carrying out patrols in Parkhurst Forest, collecting samples of a substance that officers say they're confident is rat poison.
They say it's been deposited sporadically around and are warning dog walkers of the substance.
Sergeant Mark Radford said: “These incidents continue to cause concern to people who use the Forest, but most important of all is the harm this is causing to people’s beloved pets.
“This is simply unacceptable, and our officers are patrolling the area and following up any available lines of enquiry.
"If you use the Forest, please be alert and mindful of your surroundings to help keep yourself, your pet and others safe.
“Parkhurst Forest is a vast area, and of course is very limited in terms of CCTV coverage.
"The deposition of this poison has also been sporadic, so it is crucial that members of the public report anything they see or find to police.
“Have you witnessed anyone acting suspiciously in the Forest? Do you cycle and use a helmet camera, for example, that may have captured something? Have you found any suspected poison in the Forest?
"Please give us as much detail as you can regarding exactly where and when, and any descriptions of suspicious people you have observed in the area.”
Officers have been making follow-up enquiries with local stockists of rat poison and have been liaising with the Forestry Commission.
They say typically, dog walkers have reported encountering this substance when walking their pets from the Marks Corner end of the Forest, but this substance could be laid anywhere.
Zoe Weston's Client Care Co-Ordinator at Carisbrooke Veterinary Surgery.
She's telling us her advice.
She said: "It can kill and you have to be incredibly quick with treatment if you think your dog has had rat bait because it can basically cause excessive bleeding from anywhere on an animal.
"They can present with lethargy, weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea.
"Their gums can bleed, from their eyes, you get a sort of thing on the gums called petechiation, which is lots of bruising around on the gum, it sort of appears like bruising.
"It can also lead to seizures as well."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting 44260130015.