Dog-owners in a quiet Welsh village are terrified someone is going around placing rat-poison pellets on the ground, hoping to harm residents' dogs and other pets.
Their concerns come after at least one pet was rushed to a vet after eating the strange red cube pellets, scattered along a lane popular with dog-walkers in Skewen, and needed urgent medical care.
Resident Doug Lowes said he was called home from work early by his wife, after their beloved pocket American bulldog Honey ate a "little red cube" she spotted on the ground in the alley at the end of Dynevor Road in Skewen.
Mr Lowes explained Honey gulped the strange item down before his wife could stop her and, unsure what the item could be, he and his wife took Honey to her vet.
The vet had to induce vomiting, Mr Lowes said, to ensure Honey brought up the item she ate - which the vet soon identified as rat poison.
Mr Lowes does not believe the poison was placed down for rats or other vermin, and believes someone put the pellets on the ground with the intention of harming dogs or other pets that use the lane.
He's urging other dog-owners to be vigilant and remove any strange materials or items in and around Skewen.
He said: "Just at the end of Dynevor Road in Skewen, there's a little alley, it's a popular place to walk dogs. My wife was walking our dog Honey there when she ate a little red cube that was on the ground before my wife could stop her.
"We took her to vet, and he had to give her injections and make her sick. He said the item she ate was rat poison, I looked online and it seems to be the 'rentokil rat poison' you can buy.
"We've got to take her back to the vets for blood tests to make sure she's ok."
He added that he's aware of other incidents of a similar nature in Skewen parks that took place last year.
Mr Lowes promptly reported the matter to his local councillor, Mike Harvey, who took to social media to warn local residents of the incident.
He wrote on Facebook: "Important message: Someone has placed rat poison in the lane at the side of 1 Dynevor Road and this has resulted in a dog being poisoned and taken to the vets.
"I have notified the council and they are attending to remove the poison.
"Please keep children and pets away from the area until this substance is removed.
"It is in the lane opposite the printers and I have been told it looks like red pineapple chunks."
Speaking to WalesOnline, Cllr Harvey added: "People who do this type of thing to deliberately harm dogs and other animals are the scum of the earth and I hope they are caught."
What does the RSPCA say?
WalesOnline contacted the RSPCA to ask for its advice on incidents of dog poisoning.
A spokesperson said:“This report is deeply distressing, and our thoughts are with any affected owners. We are very relieved to hear Honey is doing okay.
“As ever, we urge anyone looking to report animal welfare concerns to contact our cruelty line on 0300 1234 999. We also urge pet owners in the community to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
"If an individual fears their pet has been poisoned, it is vital they stay calm, remove the animal from the source of poison, contact their vet immediately, and follow their advice.
"A pet vomiting, expressing a depressed or sleepy demeanour, appearing drunk or uncoordinated, seizures, and breathing difficulties could all be sign of a potential poisoning incident."
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