DOG owners in the Rochford District are becoming extremely more concerned after alarming amounts of people have reported their pets becoming sick after eating poisoned dog food public parks.

In the past few weeks there has been reports of a shocking number of dogs losing their lives after innocently eating food left in public places in the district that has been poisoned with slug pellets and ibuprofen.

Walkers urge action to be taken to find the culprit and keep their dogs safe.

MJ Ryan, 28, from Southend, was devastated after the vet told her her seven and a half year old Staff Charlie had eaten poisoned food which had damaged his kidneys and meant he had to be put down.

She said: “We were on a family walk over Cherry Orchard in Rochford. Charlie just use to run around chasing sticks, all was normal until the end of our walk when he became very unresponsive. I thought he was sulking as knew we were going home. A couple of hours later he seemed drunk was walking into walls and doors and was very quiet.

“We took him to the vet and unfortunately had to have him put to sleep as his kidneys had given up and his stomach was a massive knot. Vet diagnosed straight away poisoning. It has devastated our family and I'm still waiting for my six year old to stop having nightmares and crying that he misses his Charlie.”

It was only a couple of week that the echo reported that Lisa Rawe’s six-year-old Dogue de Bordeaux, Alfie, had to be put down after suffering severe brain damage from eating dog food that was poisoned with slug pellets and a high dose of Ibuprofen.

The main places where this has been reported is Hockley Woods, Ashingdon Park, Cherry Orchard Park, Spencers Park, Hockley and areas of Rayleigh.

Hannah Biddle, 23, Hawkwell, said: “I do warn people if I see them walking their dog in the area and some seem totally unaware of what's going on. I think it's really important we spread the news. I would be happy to attend park clean ups if there was something arranged because I have seen so much kibble over Spencers. I did report it to the council. We have been keeping a close eye on our dogs since they ingested some and have been ok thankfully. I feel really 

Chris Shorrock, Clinical Director at YourVets, Rayleigh, said that what is going on is extremely dangerous for the dogs as such poisoning is extremely harmful.

He said: “I have lots of clients telling me about this, everyone is talking about it.

“Most of the poisons I’m hearing about is Slug pellets and Ibuprofen, both which are really toxic. Slug pellets cause seizures, effect the brain and cause vomiting. Ibuprofen may be safe and fine for humans, but it isn’t with animals. It can cause renal failure and in severe cases cause kidney failure. It can rip the gut lining and causes bleeding in the stomach, both are really nasty.

“It makes you think that whoever is doing it knows that these are toxic.

He explained that both these poisons require vet treatment and If a dog owner sees their dog eating this food they need to go straight to the vet, there is nothing that can be done at home.

“If they come quick enough we can get it out of their system, but by the time they start getting ill they would have absorbed the poison.”