If
you believe that your dog was poisoned in Carriage Lane Park, along the
Carriage Lane Park section of the SRP canal, or by something thrown
over your fence, please email the details to StopDogPoison@gmail.com.
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.
The information here is limited to what has been provided to us by the victims of poisonings reported since November 2008.
First Regional Animal Hospital (the most convenient emergency animal hospital to the area) has stated that there are three confirmed cases (stomach content toxicology results positive for styrchnine) and at least six more suspected cases (symptoms of strychnine poisoning present, but test not performed or completed) since late 2008. There may be more cases - unfortunately, some dogs may have died and their owners do not realize that it could have been due to poisoning along the canal. I am trying to gather the information from the current cases of which I am aware, the cases that I do not yet have information about, and the cases that have not even been reported. It's my hope that this information can at least provide the community with more information, hopefully bring awareness to the situation, and ideally encourage law enforcement and
animal control to become involved.
Current known cases:
Peanut - Chihuahua
Date: 11/10/08
Time: late morning
Location: North side of Western Canal between Rural & McClintock, near SRP power sub-station
Owner did not see the dog eat anything. Dog began having seizures shortly after walk and was rushed to Oasis Animal Clinic. Dog could not be saved and clinic notified owners that they had seen a similar case several months earlier.
Testing: No stomach content testing done. SRP took soil samples and did not find anything.
Result: Death
Chili - 6 Month Old Heeler Mix
Date: 11/30/08
Time: approx. 1pm
Location: Carriage Lane Park and North side of Western Canal
Owner did not see the dog eat anything. Dog began having seizures shortly after walk and was rushed to emergency veterinarian.
Testing: Stomach contents tested positive for strychnine.
Result: Survival
Hayla - Black Lab
Date: 1/10/09
Time: approx. 12pm
Location: Carriage Lane Park and North side of Western Canal
Owner did see dog eat something. When dog began acting stiff and uncomfortable, owner rushed dog to emergency veterinarian.
Testing: No testing done.
Result: Survival
Max - Black Lab Mix
Date: 3/1/09
Time: approx. 12pm
Location: Carriage Lane Park and North side of Western Canal
Owner did not see the dog eat anything. Dog began having seizures shortly after walk and was rushed to emergency veterinarian.
Testing: Stomach contents tested positive for strychnine.
Result: Survival
CJ - German Shepherd Mix
Date: 3/1/09
Time: approx. 3:30pm
Location: North side of Western Canal just West of Dobson Road
Owner did see the dog eat something but was unaware of previous poisonings. Upon returning home the dog went into the backyard where it passed away within approximately 45 minutes of ingestion. The owner went back out to the canal and collected several remaining meat chunks with colored pellets, both along the North side of the Western Canal, some near Dobson and some near Price.
Testing: No testing done on stomach contents. Meat collected along canal tested and confirmed for strychnine by Mesa Animal Control.
Result: Death
Blackie - 5 Month Old Black Lab Mix
Date: 3/2/09
Time: approx. 6:30am
Location: North side of Western Canal near Carriage Lane Park
Owner did not see the dog eat anything. Dog died on the way to the emergency veterinarian. First Regional Animal Hospital confirmed symptoms of strychnine poisoning.
Testing: No testing done.
Result: Death
Poisoned Meat Removed From Canal
Date: 3/7/09
Time: 8:40am
Location: Between the first and second telephone poles - North side of the Western Canal just West of Dobson Road
Two poisoned meat chunks were found and collected. The samples were described as uncooked pink hamburger meat with a greenish sort of
slime throughout and green and red colored pellets. It looked
like a dog poop from a dog that wasn't feeling very well. Since then
it has taken on more of a look of cooked hamburger meat with the
pellets still visible. The pellets are very seed like. Pictures are posted on the home page.
Testing: Samples were taken by Mesa Animal Control for testing.
Result: Collection of poisoned meat
Budha - Shepherd/Rottweiler mix - on Chandler Side Of Canal
Date: 3/7/09
Time: morning
Location: South side of Western Canal East of Dobson near Palo Verde Park
Owner did see the dog eat something and pulled it out of his mouth. Dog exhibited symptoms of strychnine poisoning after walk, but recovered on his own.
Testing: No treatment or testing done and meat not collected for testing.
Result: Survival
