Nine dogs found poisoned
Maxton, NC (US)Incident Date: Monday, Feb 19, 2007
County: Robeson
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
A string of dog deaths has Maxton residents fearing for their dogs' safety. Since November, nine dogs have died after being poisoned.
Kathy Mohn's dog Skipper "was like my child" she said. The vet suspected Skipper had been poisoned.
Maxton police report that since November, nine dogs had been found dead after eating meat covered in black powder.
Enrique Porrua's three dogs were the first victims. "I couldn't even sleep," he said.
The city has put out a warning to residents that someone was poisoning animals. It lists precautions owners can take to help keep their animals safe.
Mohn said she and the other dog owners are planning to offer a reward for anyone who has information about the dog deaths.
Maxton Police Chief Paul McDowell said the dogs bodies have been sent to Raleigh for study.
If you have any information about this case, call the Maxton Police Department at (910) 844-5667.
If you have information on this case, please contact:
Maxton Police Department
(910) 844-5667.
Case UpdatesTown officials told residents Tuesday night that they are still uncertain who killed at least nine dogs here since November and how they did so.
It is believed the dogs - mostly purebreds - were poisoned by meat being thrown in their owners' back yards. But samples sent off for testing have not proven conclusive, officials told about 30 residents who gathered at Town Hall to discuss the progress of the investigation. Officials say they are waiting for written lab reports.
Interim Town Manager Katrina Tatum said the town is doing everything it can despite limited resources. She said she asked for Tuesday's meeting to develop a strategy with residents.
"We're human just like everyone else .... we may fall short," Tatum said. "I think everybody is going to have to work together to protect their animals."
Town officials say having the county's animal cruelty investigators - Katherine Floyd and Bryon Lashley - join the probe should help. Floyd passed out business cards with her and Lashley's telephone numbers.
"If you see anything suspicious, call the police. If you see a dead dog or dead cat or you see a piece of meat, call me," Floyd said. "The more of us that get involved in this the more likely we can catch him."
Tatum advised residents not let their cats or dogs outside unless they are accompanied by a person. She said residents should be aware of activity around their homes, including strange toys or food found in the yard.
"I have a dog myself and I don't even let my dog out unless I'm with him," Tatum said. "My heart goes out to anyone who has lost a pet. It has happened to me."
Some residents expressed anger that town officials were slow to begin the investigation and haven't done more. Police Chief Paul McDowell says the department has some leads, but would not elaborate.
"The town should have been told the poisonings were going on," said Kathy Mohn, whose 6-year-old golden retriever, Skipper, was killed last month. "If it wasn't for me calling the media, the town wouldn't know about it.
"I'm mad. I'm going to keep pushing until the person is arrested and convicted. All I want is for the town to step up do their part."
Rosario Lara said she was worried about children coming into contact with tainted meat. Three of Lara's dogs were killed last November. She said the first dead dog was discovered the morning after she had held a children's party in her back yard.
"I remember very clearly one child playing with the grass," she said. "I don't know when these pieces of meat were thrown in our garden ... I think a tragedy can happen. Just imagine if some of these children find a piece of poisoned meat."
But Lara, who attended Tuesday's meeting with her 10-year-old daughter, said she was encouraged by what she heard.
"I feel optimistic because the authorities were here explaining the results and they've brought in other institutions," Lara said. "I feel confident that we are going to have a solution to this."
Anyone with information about the dog poisonings can call the Maxton Police Department at 844-5667 or Katherine Floyd at Robeson County Cruelty at 608-2317. | Source: The Robesonian - March 8, 2007
Update posted on Mar 12, 2007 - 4:31AM |
Another set of test results came back Monday, but there's still no definitive answer as to what killed nine dogs in Maxton, North Carolina. Investigators believe they were poisoned.
John Wilkerson with Animal Control says one of the animals that died last week tested positive for worms, but that's not what caused its death. Wilkerson says they're still doing more tests on that animal, along with the others. In each case, the dogs became shaky and weak before dying.
If you have a dog and find something suspicious in your yard, don't try to pick it up. Instead, bring your pet inside and call police. | Source: WPDE - Feb 26, 2007
Update posted on Feb 27, 2007 - 12:02AM |
Three more dog-poisoning cases were reported in the Maxton area on Tuesday, February 20.
Authorities say nine dogs - mostly purebreds - have been poisoned within the town limits of Maxton in the last four months.
Kathy Mohn's dog, Skipper died Monday, February 19. There were three more reported poisoning deaths on Tuesday.
Several neighbors living within a two-block area have watched their own pets suffer and die from poisonings.
Enrique Porrua lost three dogs - two miniature schnauzers and a boxer - over a four-day period at the end of November.
That is when Porrua started patrolling his back yard on McCaskill Street. On separate occasions he found small chunks of meat - ground beef, a silver of ham, a piece of fried chicken - all covered with a black substance and thrown over his fence.
William and Noreen Calder lost their 4-year-old Labrador/chow mix J.J. in early January. When the Calders brought home a new dog from the shelter, he was dead within days.
Police Chief Paul McDowell said authorities are baffled. Police have stepped up patrols in the areas where the poisonings have occurred. | Source: The Robesonian - Feb 25, 2007
Update posted on Feb 25, 2007 - 8:56PM |
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