Poisoning suspected in deaths of 2 dogs in B.C. community, RCMP say
Dog owners in Trail, B.C., are being urged to keep their pets inside as Mounties investigate the deaths of two family dogs believed to have been poisoned with strychnine.
The investigation began Tuesday after one dog died on Sunday and another died on Monday, according to a statement from the RCMP. The owners are neighbours with large properties, and the animals are described by police as "occasional playmates."
In the first case, a woman reported that she found her dog dead in the yard. Poisoning was not suspected until the following day, when the same woman noticed her neighbour's dog eating a piece of meat in the yard.
"A short time later, the playmate’s owner discovered his dog convulsing on his property before rushing it to the local veterinary hospital," the statement from the Trail RCMP says.
"Unfortunately, his dog died in transport despite his quick action and valiant efforts to save its life."
Lab testing confirmed the presence of the poison, and led police to the conclusion that the first dog was also likely to have died after ingesting the lethal substance.
"The officer concluded that the first dog had likely been poisoned with strychnine as well. The officer believed an unknown person may have been illegally baiting coyotes with poisoned meat in an effort to kill the wild animals," the statement on the detachment's website continues.
The use of strychnine in this manner is illegal but common, according to police. The BC Conservation Officer Service has been notified and police are asking anyone with information about these incidents to call 250-364-2566.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.