Dogs poisoned to death with antifreeze - Britt, MN

Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005

The dog poisoning cases reported in the Britt area last fall remain unsolved. But the owners have acquired new dogs, and reward monies will be donated to the Mesabi Humane Society.

Investigator Brian Wilson of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Department said there have been no new leads since dog owners on Highway 68 lost their pets to antifreeze-laced wieners.

Dennis and Cheryl Jensrud's golden retrievers Sandy and Echo were euthanized in September 2005. The dogs had ingested pieces of wieners laced with antifreeze, which destroys the kidneys, making them incapable of filtering the blood. Toxins build up and the animal experiences seizures, becomes comatose and subsequently dies. Bernie Knutson, also of Britt, lost his golden Labrador Mazy last September to poisoning, and both Knutson and the Jensruds had dogs poisoned about five years before. "There's nothing new. The only new thing I have is two new dogs,'' said Cheryl Jensrud. Last fall she surprised her husband with a golden retriever puppy they named Sandy, in memory of their other dog Sandy, and two months ago a woman gave the Jensruds another golden retriever pup they named Abby. "Not a thing'' has happened since last September 2005, said Cheryl Jensrud. "It's been quiet, but usually nothing happens in the winter.'' That's probably because footprints could be traced in the snow, she said. "Summer comes and we get worried. We never let our eyes off these dogs.''

She is happy the reward money has been given to the Humane Society. The Pet Cruelty Prevention fund was started at Northern State Bank in Virginia by Larry Asbach of Britt. "I had a dog that was poisoned accidentally,'' Asbach said. "There's nothing worse to watch. I thought, 'Anybody that would poison a dog intentionally, where would they stop?''' Asbach hoped the reward money would help solve the case. Kurt Sundquist, president of Northern State Bank, said recently there was more than $1,400 in the fund and plans were to give it to the Humane Society.

References

• Mesabi Daily News - April 22, 2006

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