No doubt you may be aware of a worrying number of incidents across parks in Glasgow (Kelvingrove Botanics, Linn Park, Kings Park, Partick) in which meat or tennis balls have been poisoned and left out publicly. As a result, several dogs have been poisoned, become seriously ill and in some cases died.
We all want to minimise the risk of this happening and use our collective vigilance to keep our pets safe. if you do come across any meat products or stray tennis balls on the ground in any public park (not just the Meadows) and you suspect these may be poisoned, please can you take the following steps.
1. Remove the meat ensuring that you protect your hands with a poo bag or gloves.
2. Dispose of the item safely and fully out of reach.
3. Call your local Community Police on 101 to report the incident.
In the case of tennis balls, it’s very difficult to know if these are simply lost or deliberately placed so err on the side of caution and dispose of them –better a lost ball than a sick pet.
Recognising the signs of poisoning
If you suspect that your dog has consumed poison, you must call a veterinary clinic IMMEDIATELY who will advise you how to proceed. There are multiple types of poison and symptoms can vary significantly. These can include:
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abnormal behaviour (e.g. falling over or staggering gait)
• Excessive salivation (drooling)
• Excessive sleepiness or hyper activity and restlessness
• Loss of appetite
Do NOT try to induce vomiting in your dog which may make the situation worse
Useful numbers
Depending on your location, your local vet clinic will vary but for Meadows users, the following numbers may be helpful to keep in your phone:
McDonald Vets, Queen Margaret Drive: 0141 9463651
Vets Now (24 Hours): 123-145 North Street: 0141 319 4664
Thank you for your help in keeping our parks safe for all users.