Cheated.

That’s how Robin Mobbs said he felt after realising his border collie Marley was poisoned on April 14.

“You’ve got to wonder why,” he said. “Why my dog? Why any dog? Isn’t there a better solution?”

The property manager, who explained that he frequently brings his pet to work, said he had just finished a job in Luck Hill when he noticed Marley was shaking.

At first he presumed it was a harmless twitch, but on the ride back to his residence in Cane Garden Bay, Marley began vomiting up a purple substance and frothing at the mouth, and Mr. Mobbs realised the dog had been poisoned.

Marley was taken to Canines, Cats & Critters in Nanny Cay for care, and at one point she stopped breathing and had to be placed on a respirator, according to her owner.

Chief vet: Gov’t doesn’t poison animals By KATIE KING Last June, Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering announced at the House of Assembly that the Department of Agriculture was implementing a Strategic Feral Animal Control Management Plan in response to complaints about feral animals. “There are a variety of methods, mechanical and chemical, that are available and that are currently being explored by the Department of Agriculture,” said Dr. Pickering, the minister of natural resources and labour. However, Dr. Michael Montrose, the chief veterinary officer with the department, firmly stated on Tuesday that the government is “absolutely not” involved with the poisoning of any animals. “It’s against the law under the Protection of Animals Act,” he said. The CVO explained that when Dr. Pickering mentioned the use of chemical methods, he was referring to the possibility of placing birth control medication in food and leaving it outside for feral animals to consume. Dr. Montrose added that the department ultimately decided against this tactic, as officials realised it would be too difficult to ensure that only the intended targets were consuming the medication. Although Dr. Montrose does not condone animal poisonings under any circumstance, he acknowledged that some residents have legitimate complaints about free-roaming animals, and urged all residents to take responsibility for their livestock and pets. Dr. Montrose also said he believes it would be beneficial for the territory to regulate the sale of pesticides and other poisons. To the best of his knowledge, he said there is no existing legislation that controls the usage of pestisides in the territory.

After a harrowing night, however, Marley responded to the treatments, and the dog has since made a full recovery, Mr. Mobbs said.

The following day, the pet owner returned to Luck Hill to investigate, and found a plate of French fries laced with a purple powder at the junction between Luck Hill and Brewers Bay.

Mr. Mobbs said the incident has left him questioning why it’s legal to purchase such poison in the territory.

“There’s no reason to have these poisons here,” he said. “It’s just not safe to use.”

Like Mr. Mobbs, Dr. Sarah Weston — one of the veterinarians at CC&C — has grave concerns regarding the availability of poisons in the territory.

Dr. Weston said she’s treated animals that have been poisoned with Methomyl and Paraquat, as well as various anticoagulant rodentcides.

Although these toxic substances are intended to be used as pesticides, the vet said it’s all too easy for them to end up poisoning pets.

“They are not being regulated in a way that is safe,” she said, explaining that they can be purchased from numerous stores in the territory.

The veterinarian, who recently posted about the issue on the BVI Community Board, said she decided to speak out following a two-week string of animal poisonings in Luck Hill that started on March 29.

Seven poisoned pets were treated at the clinic during that period, but three of them didn’t survive, according to Dr. Weston.

“It’s not a pleasant way to die,” she said, explaining that common symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, seizures, frothing at the mouth, and collapsing.

Treatments vary depending on each pet, but Dr. Weston said the clinic commonly administers vitamin K to prevent bleeding, fluids to prevent dehydration and kidney damage, and anti-convulsants to control seizures.

Although the vet estimated that she treats about one poisoned animal every two weeks, she said she was alarmed by the recent increase last month, as well as the severity of the poisoned pets’ symptoms.

Ginger, an orange tabby cat who was poisoned on March 31, continued to experience seizures for 90 minutes, even after receiving anti-convulsants, recalled Dr. Weston.

The feline died the following day.

Multiple samples of stomach content from these recently poisoned pets were sent to Cornell University in New York for testing, and as of Wednesday Dr. Weston said two of the returned test results confirmed that the animals were poisoned with carbofuran — a highly toxic pesticide that is tightly regulated in the European Union and Canada.

“The carbofuran being used in this most recent bout [of poisonings] is extremely harmful to humans and animals, and this does confirm our suspicions that a particularly nasty substance was to blame for the severity of symptoms seen in these animals,” she said.

The other test results have not yet been returned.

Dr. Weston stressed that her concerns don’t only apply to animals.

Explaining that these poisons are also toxic to humans, the vet said she fears that a young child will inevitably consume it at some point.

“It’s only a matter of time before a child gets seriously hurt,” she remarked.

Julie Alfoldi, whose dog Toby survived after he ingested poison while she was taking him on a walk in Luck Hill on April 12, expressed a similar concern.

“You know how toddlers are: They put everything in their mouths,” she said.

Ms. Alfoldi, who stated that she would “absolutely” support tighter restrictions or regulations on the sale of poisons, said she  hopes lawmakers will take this matter seriously.

“I just hope it doesn’t take a child to die here before something’s actually done about it,” she said.

Dr. Weston, who has been reporting the recent poisonings to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, said police have been “fantastic.”

The vet urged residents to help with the investigation by quickly reporting all poisonings to the RVIPF.

“We hope we can all work together to make the BVI safer for animals and humans,” she added.

Police Information Officer Diane Drayton confirmed on Tuesday that the police are continuing to investigate the poisonings.

 “Police are investigating the matter,” she stated. “RVIPF frontline officers are doing the initial inquiries. There are no other details available at this time.”

According to Wendy Higgins, the director of international media for Humane Society International, it’s not uncommon for the animal welfare organisation to receive reports about animal poisonings.

“We’ve heard of it happening all over the world, whether it’s being done by individuals or done by local governments,” she stated.

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