3 dogs dead, intentional poisoning suspected
Marin City, CA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007
County: Marin
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Officials in Marin County warned pet owners to keep an eye on their animals after three dogs died from an apparently intentional poisoning this week after a walk in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Marin Humane Society Capt. Cindy Machado said the three large dogs - two black Labrador retrievers and a Swiss mountain dog - died at the Tamalpais Animal Hospital, following a walk on the Alta Trail area above Marin City. Machado said officials are not sure whether the dogs ingested the poison on the walk or near their homes in the Oakdale Avenue area of Mill Valley.
Officials have not yet determined exactly what the dogs ate, but Machado said it appears to be some sort of "everyday yard product." She believes it was intentional, she said, because the dogs' stomach contents revealed that the product had been mixed with food. "We can't say for sure that we know it's one brand, or (a particular) poison - the lab results take a while," Machado said. "I can tell you that we have looked at the evidence, and we strongly believe it was an everyday, common yard product. ... We do believe we have an intentional act of animal cruelty, and we don't know if it is (aimed at) dogs or cats."
The Humane Society is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible. They could face misdemeanor animal-poisoning charges and felony animal-cruelty charges, she said. Mill Valley police, the Marin County Sheriff's Department and officials from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area are assisting Humane Society officials in their investigation, and the agencies have posted signs in the area warning pet owners of the possible danger.
Machado identified the dogs as Nick, a 12-year-old Lab, Stella, a 10-year-old Lab, and Ajax, a 31/2- year-old Swiss mountain dog. Nick and Stella belonged to the same owner, she said, and Ajax is a neighbor's pet. The dogs were on a walk - along with four other dogs - with dog-walker Carol Anderson of the walking service Dog Dreams, she said. "They went on an hour-and-a-half hike ... so we really don't know where this material could have been picked up," she said. Nick began having seizures as Anderson drove the dogs home around noon, she said. Within hours, the other two dogs were ill as well. "These dogs are all big dogs (more than 100 pounds), and it takes a powerful substance to knock out a big dog like that so quickly," she said.
Machado suggested that pet owners keep an eye on their animals and leash dogs until the investigation is complete. They should be on the lookout for symptoms including heavy panting, seizures or shaking. None of the dogs vomited or had diarrhea, but those are also possible signs of poisoning, she said.
Anyone with any information should call Machado at (415) 506-6209. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Cindy Machado
(415) 506-6209
References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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