Carriage Lane Canines
A place for Carriage Lane dog owners to share ideas and information
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Our dogs are in danger!
As of 3/23/09, there is no news other than that the two separate samples submitted to Mesa Animal Control have been tested and are confirmed as positive for strychnine. We've talked to the landscapers for the local park and they do not even carry strychnine containing substances. We have not had any tips for the reward. Thankfully, there have not been any further cases that have been reported to StopDogPoison@gmail.com. We must not let our guard down though! Please remember to keep your eyes out for suspicious substances and persons!
If you find suspected poison, please contact the Mesa Police at 480-644-2211 and tell them that Mesa Animal Control has requested that they do an official evidence collection of the substance. Do not touch or move it and wait at the location for the Police to collect it officially.
If you find suspected poison, please contact the Mesa Police at 480-644-2211 and tell them that Mesa Animal Control has requested that they do an official evidence collection of the substance. Do not touch or move it and wait at the location for the Police to collect it officially.
Cash Reward!
A substantial amount of money has been pledged as a reward to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons using strychnine laced meat to poison dogs in the Carriage Lane / Western Canal area.
If you have information, please call Mesa Animal Control at 480-644-2084 or email StopDogPoison
@gmail.com.
A substantial amount of money has been pledged as a reward to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons using strychnine laced meat to poison dogs in the Carriage Lane / Western Canal area.
If you have information, please call Mesa Animal Control at 480-644-2084 or email StopDogPoison
@gmail.com.
Photos of poisoned meat found and collected on the canal just West of Dobson Road at 8:40am on 3/7/09. This sample was tested and confirmed for strychnine by Mesa Animal Control.
Mission
This site was created in January 2009, as a response to a series of strychnine poisonings in or near Carriage Lane Park and along the Western Canal. It is intended as a place for Carriage Lane dog owners and others concerned about the health and safety of our best friends to share information and ideas.
A meeting was held on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at Carriage Lane Park to let concerned dog owners know of the recent poisoning incidents. Dr. Alisa Reniker of First Regional Animal Hospital informed us of two confirmed cases and four to five suspected cases of strychnine poisoning which occurred shortly after the dogs had been taken to Carriage Lane Park. At that point, all of the known or suspected cases had resulted in favorable outcomes, as there are no reports of deaths. Since then, at least one dog has been killed from ingesting a poisonous substance along the canal near Carriage Lane Park.
Due to the extremely thin resources of Mesa public agencies, it is unlikely that either the Mesa Police Department, Mesa Parks and Recreation, or Mesa Animal Control will be able to devote much time to these crimes. Thus the need for a grassroots, community organized campaign to stop future incidents. The turnout at the January 17th meeting was fantastic and in an effort to keep us connected, Carriage Lane Canines was born!
As part of this community effort, we are first asking that all residents of Carriage Lane, as well as users of Carriage Lane Park and the Western Canal from other neighborhoods, be on the lookout for suspicious activity and suspicious substances. Suspicious activity would include someone surreptitiously dropping things on the grounds of the park or along the canal. Suspicious substances would include any food substance with visible granules . Strychnine baits are usually granular or seed like, often with a purple, red, or green dye.
Strychnine Poisoning
This information is compliments of First Regional Animal Hospital, 1233 West Warner Road, Chandler AZ 85224 480-857-0451
How toxic is strychnine?
Very! Strychnine is produced mainly for the purpose of killing gophers and rodents. Many baits contain 0.5% strychnine (5mg strychnine per gram of bait). It takes as little as 0.25 to 2mg/kg to kill a pet.
What are the clinical signs I should watch for?
Depending on the dose, clinical signs may appear as quickly as 10 minutes to 2 hours after exposure. Initially, the pet may seem tense, nervous, or startle easily. This can rapidly progress to muscle tremors, spasms, seizures, and potentially death by asphyxiation (suffocation) as soon as 1 to 2 hours after the onset of signs.
How could my pet be exposed?
The most common method of poisoning pets is ingestion. Strychnine is bitter, and so it may be hidden in some form of food to hide the taste. It is reported in people that strychnine toxicity can occur if it is inhaled (breathed in) or injected intravenously, but this is not commonly reported with pets. May batis containing strychnine have purple, red, or green dye.
How is strychnine poisoning treated?
Strychnine is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and so early recognition is vital. Unfortunately, there is no specific antidote, so any animal suspected of being affected should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Measures will be taken to remove any remaining poison by pumping the stomach or giving a binding agent (activated charcoal) if the ingestion is very recent. Medications to stop the seizures and tremors, control body temperature, and provide support of organ systems will be administered.
How do I know if my pet will survive the poison?
Every case is a little different, depending on the dose ingested and the time until treatment is started. In general, the prognosis is "guarded" to "poor". But, if the veterinarian is able to get the seizures and tremors under control, and there hasn't been major brain damage, the clinical symptoms will usually improve within the first 48 hours if treatment is succesful. As very strong sedetives may be necessary for treatment, the pet can be comatose or very sleepy for several days.
This site was created in January 2009, as a response to a series of strychnine poisonings in or near Carriage Lane Park and along the Western Canal. It is intended as a place for Carriage Lane dog owners and others concerned about the health and safety of our best friends to share information and ideas.
A meeting was held on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at Carriage Lane Park to let concerned dog owners know of the recent poisoning incidents. Dr. Alisa Reniker of First Regional Animal Hospital informed us of two confirmed cases and four to five suspected cases of strychnine poisoning which occurred shortly after the dogs had been taken to Carriage Lane Park. At that point, all of the known or suspected cases had resulted in favorable outcomes, as there are no reports of deaths. Since then, at least one dog has been killed from ingesting a poisonous substance along the canal near Carriage Lane Park.
Due to the extremely thin resources of Mesa public agencies, it is unlikely that either the Mesa Police Department, Mesa Parks and Recreation, or Mesa Animal Control will be able to devote much time to these crimes. Thus the need for a grassroots, community organized campaign to stop future incidents. The turnout at the January 17th meeting was fantastic and in an effort to keep us connected, Carriage Lane Canines was born!
As part of this community effort, we are first asking that all residents of Carriage Lane, as well as users of Carriage Lane Park and the Western Canal from other neighborhoods, be on the lookout for suspicious activity and suspicious substances. Suspicious activity would include someone surreptitiously dropping things on the grounds of the park or along the canal. Suspicious substances would include any food substance with visible granules . Strychnine baits are usually granular or seed like, often with a purple, red, or green dye.
Strychnine Poisoning
This information is compliments of First Regional Animal Hospital, 1233 West Warner Road, Chandler AZ 85224 480-857-0451
How toxic is strychnine?
Very! Strychnine is produced mainly for the purpose of killing gophers and rodents. Many baits contain 0.5% strychnine (5mg strychnine per gram of bait). It takes as little as 0.25 to 2mg/kg to kill a pet.
What are the clinical signs I should watch for?
Depending on the dose, clinical signs may appear as quickly as 10 minutes to 2 hours after exposure. Initially, the pet may seem tense, nervous, or startle easily. This can rapidly progress to muscle tremors, spasms, seizures, and potentially death by asphyxiation (suffocation) as soon as 1 to 2 hours after the onset of signs.
How could my pet be exposed?
The most common method of poisoning pets is ingestion. Strychnine is bitter, and so it may be hidden in some form of food to hide the taste. It is reported in people that strychnine toxicity can occur if it is inhaled (breathed in) or injected intravenously, but this is not commonly reported with pets. May batis containing strychnine have purple, red, or green dye.
How is strychnine poisoning treated?
Strychnine is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and so early recognition is vital. Unfortunately, there is no specific antidote, so any animal suspected of being affected should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Measures will be taken to remove any remaining poison by pumping the stomach or giving a binding agent (activated charcoal) if the ingestion is very recent. Medications to stop the seizures and tremors, control body temperature, and provide support of organ systems will be administered.
How do I know if my pet will survive the poison?
Every case is a little different, depending on the dose ingested and the time until treatment is started. In general, the prognosis is "guarded" to "poor". But, if the veterinarian is able to get the seizures and tremors under control, and there hasn't been major brain damage, the clinical symptoms will usually improve within the first 48 hours if treatment is succesful. As very strong sedetives may be necessary for treatment, the pet can be comatose or very sleepy for several days.
