RESIDENTS in Clonlara have expressed concern and anger over a spate of dog poisonings close to a residential area where children often play.
At least four dogs are known to have died in recent days after poisoning along the banks of the Ardnacrusha canal in Clonlara, which lies very close to a school and children’s play area. The land is owned by the ESB and rented to farmers for grazing sheep.
One dog owner whose pet was poisoned said: “My case involved the dog going into convolutions after walking the area and dying after 90 minutes at the veterinary clinic.
“The vet found a cooked sausage possibly laced with poison. Toxicity tests are ongoing and strychnine is suspected.
“The lands where I walked the dog are less than 100 yards from a public road and the area is adjacent to two housing estates where children were playing on mid-term break. The entrance is 20 metres from a national school.”
John Garrahy from Treaty Veterinary Clinic described the grim nature of the dogs’ demise and advised people not to go near the lands affected.
He stated: “All of the deaths were quite rapid and came about from a sudden onset. They were all more or less dead on arrival at the clinic and they all had a quite painful death. We would advise dog walkers to stay well away from the canal banks and also for children to avoid the area.”
Gardaí in Ardnacrusha confirmed that inquiries are ongoing and that the ESB have written to all land owners to warn of the illegalities of laying poison.
As part of the lease agreement, any land owners caught laying poison illegally are liable to have their leases revoked.
