An animal clinic has warned residents after four dogs were poisoned in two separate incidents in Monument Park and Eldoraigne.
Bakenkop Animal Clinic spokesperson Cindy du Preez said the dogs were all in a critical, but stable, condition.
“They will continue receiving treatment, it’s not a one-day treatment with these types of cases. We are hoping that they make a full recovery,” said Du Preez.
“We see this from time-to-time, but two cases on the same morning is out of the ordinary.
“We think that with the long weekend and people going away, criminals were taking an opportunity.”
Du Preez said that the clinic wanted people to be aware of these incidents to protect themselves and their animals.
“If they are not home, maybe get someone to check on your pets while you are away and check the yard before you leave.
“A poisoning is a big emergency, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.”
Part of what makes poisonings such an emergency is that it can be difficult to know what poisons were used, according to Du Preez.
She said that it is usually an organophosphate or carbamate insecticide used in the agricultural industry, but that these can be mixed with other unknown substances.
“It is more prevalent that dogs get poisoned at night. But it is possible for dogs that are kept inside to fall victim to poisonings. They might find some meat with poison inside or something when they are let outside in the morning,” she said.
“Most people don’t usually patrol their garden in the mornings before letting their dogs out, but it is a good practice to check your yard before letting your dogs out.
“If you have community WhatsApp groups, alert your neighbours. It is good to know if these things happen in your area, it could be a sign of more robberies or poisonings to come,” she said.
“Alert the police. They need to know so that they can be more vigilant in the area.”
Wierdabrug police spokesperson Sergeant Divine Nkuna said the last case reported at the station was on March 5 in Bronberrick when a family left overnight for a visit in Witbank.
When the family arrived home, they found their dogs were dead and they had been robbed.
Police urged residents to report these crimes to their local station.
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