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Hunt to find deadly poison killing dogs (From Daily Echo)
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Hunt to find deadly poison killing dogs
9:41am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News
Lauren and Louise Beal with Monty
POLLUTION experts are attempting to identify a deadly toxin that is thought to be killing dogs in the New Forest.
At least eight pets have died after injuring themselves at a popular beauty spot – sparking fears that the mystery substance could also pose a threat to human health.
All the dogs were taken ill after being exercised at Latchmore Brook, once part of a wartime bombing range near Fordingbridge.
Last night it was revealed that the Environment Agency has launched an investigation into the deaths amid fears that some of the ordnance is still in the ground.
The water or soil-born poison is thought to have been disturbed, possibly by recent heavy rain.
The Forestry Commission has begun a controversial stream restoration project in the area but says all it has done so far is fell a few trees.
A spokesman said: “The Commission is treating seriously reports of dogs falling ill and dying after walking in the Ogdens area.
“To help find out what is causing this distressing situation we have already got back to the only dog owner who has contacted us so far.
“We are in touch with other organisations, including the Environment Agency and New Forest District Council.
“The Commission has not undertaken any significant ground engineering work in the area in recent months, despite speculation that the illness affecting dogs may be associated with work in the area.”
Vets say the toxin entered its victims’ bloodstream, causing kidney failure, after the dogs cut their legs or paws.
Louise Beal, of North Gorley, lost her springer spaniel Bruno a week after exercising him near Ogdens car park.
Bruno suffered a cut paw, which Mrs Beal treated with disinfectant before taking him to the Linwood Veterinary Group at Verwood two days later.
Bruno was given antibiotics but his condition deteriorated rapidly.
He was hooked up to a drip and taken to renal specialists Anderson Moores in Winchester in the family car.
But all efforts to save him failed and he died last Saturday.
Mrs Beal said: “The vet thinks it’s an unidentified toxin that has worked its way up through disturbed soil, a bit like anthrax.
“We just want to save other people having to go through this – it’s been the most awful week.
“I’m worried that the weather will warm up and there will be small children up there. What if this affects humans too?”
Now the vet who treated Bruno, Duncan Reavell, is compiling a database in a bid to track down the cause of the dog deaths.
He said: “This cluster of cases is not chronic kidney failure caused by old age but acute kidney failure caused by something that we haven’t been able to identify yet.”
Eight dogs have died over a three-month period, but no other species appear to have been affected.
Roger Stobbs of the Forest Veterinary Clinic in Fordingbridge, said: “We don’t know what’s causing the deaths – they don’t fit any normal pattern.
“I would advise dog walkers to stay away from the area.
“If they do through there they should wash their dogs’ feet when they get home so that they can examine them properly.
“If there’s any sign of injury they should seek veterinary advice.”
Asked if he thought people were also at risk he replied: “It’s impossible to say.”
Comments(31)
Sir Ad E Noid
says...
10:30am Wed 6 Mar 13
seven777.
says...
11:23am Wed 6 Mar 13
AD1234 wrote:I've been sat here trying to come up
Excellent. The New Forest is positively infested with dogs. We so need a cull.
with a response that dosen't break house rules (abusive or malicious) so this will have to do.
Anyone who describes the death of a dog by poison as excellent should hope no-one ever finds out who they are and where they live.
AD1234
says...
12:17pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Nice people, dog-lovers.
VictoriaParks
says...
12:45pm Wed 6 Mar 13
AD1234 wrote:Anyone who thinks the painful death of an animals is 'excellent' should not be having kids.
So 777 is reduced to threats of vandalism and physical violence, against someone who hates seeing his children stand up at a picnic with dog-s*it all over them.
Nice people, dog-lovers.
bernard7
says...
12:50pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Facewagon
says...
1:23pm Wed 6 Mar 13
AD1234 wrote:You could always teach your children not to roll around in dog s*it. Do they roll around in horse s*it too? Should all the ponies be culled? Should all the world be reorganised according to your little whims?
So 777 is reduced to threats of vandalism and physical violence, against someone who hates seeing his children stand up at a picnic with dog-s*it all over them.
Nice people, dog-lovers.
AD1234
says...
1:31pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Dog lovers tend to be dirty, selfish, and inconsiderate.
You lot have no idea how much grief you cause others. There should be areas of the forest free from dogs, and other areas devoted to you lot emptying your dogs' bowels.
seven777.
says...
1:32pm Wed 6 Mar 13
AD1234 wrote:you silly s@d i have made no threats
So 777 is reduced to threats of vandalism and physical violence, against someone who hates seeing his children stand up at a picnic with dog-s*it all over them.
Nice people, dog-lovers.
towards you of any kind what so ever,
nor would i. i am just saying it would be
best for you and yours not to let your
local community know your views on how excellent it is that a dog dies a painful death. you may find people from your own community would feel as outraged as me and victoria park.if you read threats of violence in what said maybe you already know killing a dog painfully because the useless owner wont pick its sh?t up
is a massive over reaction on your part.
SaffaInTheUk
says...
1:49pm Wed 6 Mar 13
AD1234 wrote:Wow, that's the most insensitive thing I've read all day. What would you say if it was a child that died?
Excellent. The New Forest is positively infested with dogs. We so need a cull.
And after reading previous comments, way to generalize every dog owner in existence. Not everyone leaves their dog's crap to rot, I don't. And for the record honey, despite having 2 dogs that shed like mad, my house is spotless c:
minnie64
says...
1:50pm Wed 6 Mar 13
AD1234 wrote:So what you have said that people who live with animals are filthy!!! I'll have you know that just because I have a dog I am certainly not filthy - you could say the same about a child - they are pretty filthy too
No, but you filthy people who live with animals should keep said animals under control, and pick up their filth, rather than leaving it to potentially blind a small child. Dog lovers tend to be dirty, selfish, and inconsiderate. You lot have no idea how much grief you cause others. There should be areas of the forest free from dogs, and other areas devoted to you lot emptying your dogs' bowels.
bernard7
says...
2:05pm Wed 6 Mar 13
A lot of human beings are a much much worse than dogs so should we cull human beings as well?
The only things that dogs do wrong(and through no fault of their own) is sh*t on the ground.
The world would be a much better place if the only thing that people did wrong was sh*t on the ground. I would be able to put up with sh*t on the ground in a perfect society.
seven777.
says...
2:19pm Wed 6 Mar 13
bernard7 wrote:bernard 7 i absolutely hate the idea of defunding this t?t but.
When has dog cr*p ever blinded a child? What are you on? and if your children are rolling in it then you need to have a serious re-assessment of your parenting skills.
A lot of human beings are a much much worse than dogs so should we cull human beings as well?
The only things that dogs do wrong(and through no fault of their own) is sh*t on the ground.
The world would be a much better place if the only thing that people did wrong was sh*t on the ground. I would be able to put up with sh*t on the ground in a perfect society.
toxocariasis is an infestation of humans, usually children, with the larvae of Toxocara canis, a small threadlike worm that resides in a dog's intestine.
toxocariasis, still causes partial blindness in up to 100 children every year.
seven777.
says...
2:21pm Wed 6 Mar 13
bernard7
says...
2:41pm Wed 6 Mar 13
seven777.
says...
2:45pm Wed 6 Mar 13
bernard7 wrote:Is your question directed to me? or at the t?t ad1234.
Ok so why has nothing been done about this then if it is such a big problem? and is that your only argument against dogs?
bernard7
says...
2:50pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Brock_and_Roll
says...
2:51pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Surely no can make an argument that stepping in dogs much is akin to stepping in horse or cow poo? Hell when I was a nipper in the forest we used to use "horses oranges" as snowballs!
Personally I would be happy to let the do walkers "have" somewhere like Wilverley, if like is the case with beaches, other areas were made dog free.
As an amusing aside, I used to have a next door neighbour whose 5 cats used to constantly poop in my garden at a time when I had a small toddler - one night after a few pints I built a very substantial log cabin on her lawn - she got the message!
seven777.
says...
3:16pm Wed 6 Mar 13
bernard7 wrote:Ok, just to add if people get their dogs
Sorry didn't realise it was a different person! I mistook you for ad1234!
wormed it prevents the problem.
derek james
says...
3:54pm Wed 6 Mar 13
throatwarbler
says...
5:31pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Banning dogs is unfortunately not the answer - it's about education. You would honestly think dog owners could keep their dogs on a lead in sensitive areas during the breeding season, wouldn't you? some do, some don't.
Some time ago the forestry comission tried to ban dogs from using certain paths because the enrichment from their excrement was actually changing the vegetation community. Members of staff received death threats...so the idea was scrapped.
Horrible thing to happen to the dogs, though, i hope people listen to the warnings.
vogon
says...
7:22pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Turtlebay
says...
7:25pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Brusher Mills
says...
9:01pm Wed 6 Mar 13
AD1234 wrote:Some area of the Forest are now no go areas, if you walk between the Happy Cheese in Ashurst to the train station you need to play avoid the dogs mess. Also Deerleep has become very bad recently. Its about time they brought back the idea of banning dog owners from some parts. Annoying things is most of these dog owners after they have let their dog fowl get in their cars and drive back to Southampton, how would they like it if I got my Ponies to fowl in their gardens. Back to the point however, no animal deserves to be poisoned.
So 777 is reduced to threats of vandalism and physical violence, against someone who hates seeing his children stand up at a picnic with dog-s*it all over them.
Nice people, dog-lovers.
Turtlebay
says...
10:14pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Brusher Mills wrote:I think they'd be delighted if your ponies fouled in their gardens, free manure!
AD1234 wrote:Some area of the Forest are now no go areas, if you walk between the Happy Cheese in Ashurst to the train station you need to play avoid the dogs mess. Also Deerleep has become very bad recently. Its about time they brought back the idea of banning dog owners from some parts. Annoying things is most of these dog owners after they have let their dog fowl get in their cars and drive back to Southampton, how would they like it if I got my Ponies to fowl in their gardens. Back to the point however, no animal deserves to be poisoned.
So 777 is reduced to threats of vandalism and physical violence, against someone who hates seeing his children stand up at a picnic with dog-s*it all over them.
Nice people, dog-lovers.
zuki12
says...
12:38am Thu 7 Mar 13
saintsteves
says...
12:46am Thu 7 Mar 13
Torchie1
says...
1:20am Thu 7 Mar 13
Turtlebay wrote:I suggest you familiarise yourself with the history of Ashley Walk bombing range as you seem a bit confused about what it was used for. If you prefer to believe conspiracy theories, don't waste your time because it won't be as interesting.
To go back to the story, the area was used as a practice bombing range during WW2. It seems obvious to me that chemical or biological bombs were also tested there, knowing how reluctant the MOD always are to admit blame.
noodlesnewman
says...
2:57pm Thu 7 Mar 13
AD1234 wrote:you orrible cxxt !
Excellent. The New Forest is positively infested with dogs. We so need a cull.
Jonnybeal
says...
4:41pm Thu 7 Mar 13
However, after over 6 years of work and love, we found he was the greatest companion you could ever meet. He was friendly with children, elderly, and never confronted other dogs.
We changed him, and it was not easy.
When people go on forums, like this one, berating dog owners for dog mess instead of taking notice of an issue that could potentially affect not just animals but children; I wonder how they might feel the next time their child wanders through the forest. Stepping in puddles, water, mud and getting covered in all manner of substances, can they be sure that their child has not contracted a lethal illness?
Much like people who make false calls to the Police; I feel no remorse for them, if they don't desire to find out the cause of such a dangerous issue. What I'd really like to suggest, is that instead of having me photograph my own distraught mother and sister - next time, they come and do it.
Forget about all the court-driven crime stories, tales of tax dodgers and Council/political stories - here, the Echo are working desperately hard to find answers and actively help people and save lives and you sideline their efforts with childish comments that embarrass everyone who supports local news and its great causes.
Shame on you.
telgar
says...
10:55pm Fri 8 Mar 13
AD1234 says...
10:12am Wed 6 Mar 13