Poison bait: The hidden danger for dogs!

Unfortunately, it happens again and again that dog haters put out poisoned bait and want to harm or even kill animals. You can read tips on how to deal with the danger and how to react in an emergency here:

Poison baits are often placed in urban areas such as large cities. Areas at risk include dog parks, parks and riverbanks, i.e. anywhere where four-legged friends are walked. The baits are often hidden in tall grass or bushes so that they are not noticed immediately.

The danger lurks in many forms: It is usually an attractive meat component such as minced meat or sausage that is prepared as a murder weapon. This can be done with various agents such as rat poison, slug pellets or medication. These poisons work at different speeds, so it can take up to two days for the owner to realise that something is wrong with Bello. However, razor blades, needles, nails, barbed wire or broken glass are also used, which have an immediate and, in most cases, violent effect.

What preventative measures can you take to protect your pet?

• Train the dog never to eat anything from the ground.
• Teach the animal to indicate possible prey to the owner by sound and position and only pick it up on command (after human control), e.g. "Take".
• Teach the dog not to simply eat what it finds, but to bring it to its owner, who then exchanges it for a treat. But beware: contact with poison may already have been made through the mucous membranes.
• Always provide sufficient play and activity so that the animal has no interest in roaming and searching for prey.
• Have treats ready and do not take a hungry dog for a walk.

As the first three methods require a lot of education and training, you should familiarise your pet with them as a puppy. If you are not confident about consistent training, you should seek professional help, e.g. from a dog training centre. It costs money, but it can save your dog's life. And to be honest, good training has never harmed a dog and generally makes living together easier.

But even the best training can fail and the food instinct can take over. Therefore, never take your eyes off your four-legged friend for too long on walks and call him to you regularly so that he is aware that his pack leader is watching him. Areas where poisoned bait has been found recently should of course be avoided when walking your dog. If this is not possible, you should keep your dog on a short lead. If your pet is used to wearing a muzzle, this may also be an alternative.

How can I find out where lethal treats have been found?

You can often find information on this in the local section of the daily newspaper. Comprehensive reports, sometimes with markings on maps, can be found in relevant forums and websites. Apps such as "Giftköderradar" are also available for smartphones, which provide comprehensive reports on danger zones. The reports are very detailed and usually verified by the police or vets. In city parks and other places with a high number of dogs, public authorities or private individuals sometimes also put up warning signs. If you want to display such signs yourself, it is necessary to consult the local police or public order office.

And what if an accident does happen?

In the event that, despite all precautions, an accident does occur, every dog owner should be prepared and have the following numbers to hand:

• The number of your own or the nearest vet/animal clinic
• The number of the animal rescue service (unfortunately often only available in large cities)
• The number of the poison control centre (deals with enquiries about humans and animals)

If an emergency occurs, keep calm. If possible, ask passers-by for help, as you need to react quickly:

• Determine the cause! Poison or foreign body? Do not induce vomiting under any circumstances, as this may cause acid/vomiting or sharp objects to be forced down the throat and cause further damage.
• Check whether the animal can be transported. If it can still walk, put it on a lead.
• Contact the nearest doctor, describe the circumstances and declare an emergency.
• Before you take the animal to the doctor (by taxi if necessary!) you should look for any remains of the poisoned bait. This makes diagnosis easier and can speed up treatment. It can also serve as evidence for the police. Caution: do not touch the bait directly, but collect it with a poo bag, for example. What harms your dog can also be dangerous for you.

How can I recognise symptoms of poisoning?

The symptoms of some poisons only become apparent after hours or days. If your pet shows symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, staggering, disorientation, bloody faeces, breathing difficulties and trembling, poisoning may be present. Poisoning does not necessarily have to be caused by a bait. Poisonous chemicals may also be lurking in the household, or a poisoned rat may have been eaten.

Why should you inform the police?

Once the acute danger has passed, you should inform the police, hand over evidence, describe the facts as precisely as possible and file a report against persons unknown. The police usually react very comprehensively in these cases, as children and wild animals are also at risk! Children's playgrounds have already been temporarily closed after poisoned bait was found in the neighbourhood. The more information the police have, the higher the probability that the dog hater will be caught. If the police can link several offences, a serial offender can be assumed. You can also report the case on forums or social media, as factually as possible, to warn others.

If the perpetrator is caught, he may be prosecuted for several offences:

• Initiation of criminal proceedings for cruelty to animals and damage to property
• Administrative fines: Fines of up to €25,000.00 possible for placing poisoned bait
• Ban on keeping animals, but this will not affect a dog hater so severely
• Action for damages by the dog owner for treatment costs, other expenses and possibly compensation for pain and suffering

And always remember, even if your own animal is not affected by the danger, you may be able to save another dog from a terrible fate by calling the police!

Our recommendations for your four-legged friend:

Tasting packs for dogs

BIO dog food