There is concern in Saskatoon over the possible poisoning of a dog in the city's west end. The dog's owner and residents in the area are concerned there may be more of this potentially harmful substance out there.
Amanda Raymond was out walking her dog, Patrick, last Wednesday near James Alexander School. Raymond says Patrick found a bag in the bushes, and picked it up with his mouth. "It was a brownish gray colour, and it wasn't really solid, it wasn't really liquid. It had this rancid smell to it."
Patrick went into seizure about an hour and a half later. She took him to the university vet clinic where he was later euthanized. She took the bag to the principal of James Alexander School and he called police to investigate.
"He kind of wrote down what happened and they both basically wrote it off as if well, it must have been a rotten lunch," says Raymond.
The police officer took the bag and sent it to the veterinary college. A week later, Raymond says the college asked her to pay $70 to have it tested. She declined because she felt the police or the school should cover the cost, as this is a potential public safety issue. A doctor at the college says no money was paid, so the bag was likely tossed.
The school board said they were relying on the police to let them know whether or not they should be concerned. The police say they read the college pathologist's report on the dog and don't feel there is anything suspicious about his death. The pathologist believes the bag contained both feces and dirt.
But if that's all that was in the bag, it still can't be confirmed. For now, Raymond, and the rest of the neighbourhood, must assume the bushes are safe.
