Dogs poisoned over festive season

The Cayman Islands Humane Society is warning dog owners to keep their pets from roaming after a renewed spate of paraquat poisoning cases have been reported. 

The herbicide is deadly, causing a slow and painful death by suffocation because of the damage it can do to the respiratory system. Cayman has a sad history with the herbicide being used to poison animals intentionally in the past. 

According to Dr. Brenda Bush of Islands Veterinary Services, they have seen a number of incidents of poisonings since the start of the festive season. 

“Unfortunately, the holidays started with paraquat poisonings before Christmas and we saw several throughout the holiday period,” Ms Bush said. 

According to Ms Bush, the most recent case came into the clinic on Wednesday from Pease Bay, with the person who brought the dog in reporting that other dead dogs had been seen in the area. 

There have been eight cases so far, spread across various districts including West Bay, Pease Bay, Admiral’s Landing and East End. 

“As we are all too aware there is no antidote for the paraquat and all the cases were fatal. Many of the owners had to make the difficult decision to euthanise their beloved pet,” Ms Bush said. 

The most recent cases are just the most recent in a long line of dog poisonings to take place over the years. 

“I have seen this malicious form of poisoning time and time again since I opened my practice in 1994,” Ms Bush said. 

Although it could be possible for a dog to acquire an accidental does of paraquat, Ms Bush said it was highly unlikely that the majority of the cases were accidental. 

“From samples we had sent in on other cases to the toxicology lab there is usually enough paraquat in there system to indicate a large amount of paraquat was placed in bait for the dogs to ingest,” she said. 

The herbicide used to be available from the Department of Agriculture, but according to Brian Crichlow, the assistant director of the department, the herbicide is no longer offered for sale by the department. He said if paraquat was being used to poison animals, it had either been stockpiled or had been imported by someone other than the department. 

The chemical can also be fatal to humans and Ms Bush said the only solution to the problem would be an outright ban. 

“This chemical is extremely dangerous and I don’t know what it will take for the community to demand it to be totally banned from the islands,” she said. 

According to Mr. Crichlow, this was not something the Department of Agriculture had control over. 

“Unfortunately there is no pesticides registration law or legislation controlling the use and importation of pesticides,” said Mr. Crichlow. 

He said that such legislation had been proposed in the past, but has never progressed into law. 

According to Twila Escalante, shelter liaison for the Humane Society, dog owners should be aware of what their animals are doing at all times. 

“Pet owners should not allow their dogs to roam, pick up or eat anything outside their living areas and to contact a vet immediately if there are any changes in the dogs eating or breathing habits,” she said. 

Ms Bush said dog owners should walk their pet on a leash and pay close attention to anything that might look like food left out for the dog. 

Ms Escalante urged pet owners not to delay taking their pets to the vet should they suspect poisoning. 

“Sometimes, if the pet is treated in time, the pet can be saved, but there is no antidote for paraquat and animals die an excruciating death as paraquat basically shuts down the respiratory system and the victim suffocates,” she said. 

The Humane Society urged people who have nuisance problems with dogs not to take matters into their own hands and to speak to the owners of the dogs, or alternatively contact the Humane Society on 949-1461 for assistance.