Dog poisoned by banned pesticides

Thursday 10 August 2017

A pup who died in July after a walk around the Beauport and Les Creux area was poisoned by a highly toxic pesticide, test results have shown.

The incriminating substance is called Phorate, an insecticide that attacks the nervous system in a similar way to nerve gas, and was banned from the island over 15 years ago.

The dog (pictured) fell ill just a few hours after her walk, and her owner described her as a "very healthy Japanese Spitz, aged over 10 years." Jeremy Miller, a vet at All Pets Vet Centre, confirmed she died "from exposure to a pesticide, namely an organophosphate, which acts as a nerve toxin and can be deadly to small mammals at a high dose."

The vet added that the dog must have been exposed to a "fair amount" of the pesticide and that even a small dose would have been enough to kill the animal rapidly. It is most likely the case that the dog drank some water that was infected by the poison. 

Mr Miller explained: "The States Vet is tracking the source of the pesticide and where it was put out, which was in a field most likely. Phorate disappears quite quickly in the environment which is good news. It was probably used in a small area and if we can speak to the person who used it and let them know of the risks, we can avoid a similar situation. The only risk is if they use it again before we identify them. In any case, I would recommend to dog owners to wait until we know where it comes from before choosing to avoid any area."

Pictured: The dog had been walking around Beauport and Les Creux.

Dog owners have however already opted for other places to walk their four-legged friends. One woman commented In a post on the Jersey Dog Forum saying: "I have kept away from the area since I heard the story. I am scared my dog will get sick so won't walk there until I know it's safe. Shame as we love that walk to Beauport." Others said such things shouldn't be allowed to happen and that any sprayed area should be cordoned off until it's proven safe.

While Phorate was banned from Jersey over 15 years ago and cannot be purchased in the island, it is not illegal to use it. Dog owners regularly hit out at the use of pesticides and herbicides in popular dog walking areas.

When the Department of the Environment was contacted late last month about the issue, it urged people to be vigilant if they have any doubts about their pup. In a statement, the department wrote:  "If Islanders have concerns about the health of their dog, they should report this to their vet in the first instance. If the dog owner or vet thinks the cause of the animal’s ill health is suspicious, they should report this to the police for further investigation.

"If the police consider an offence may have been committed, they will investigate further and liaise with the relevant authorities as necessary. If people are concerned, they should keep their dogs under close control or on a lead."