BARRY HERTZOG – Lucia Unsworth and her family are devastated, after their two beloved dogs died in front of them in Barry Hertzog Park, this morning.
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“I went outside to open the gates for my husband at around 6:30 am, and both my dogs were fine. At around 7:15am, I was about to take my daughter to school when we realised there was something wrong with the dogs,” said Mrs Unsworth.
According to her, the dogs started shaking uncontrollably, and began to foam at their mouths.
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“I just heard my daughter and my mother call for me, screaming there was something wrong with our babies. I saw the foam and pain they were in.”
Mrs Unsworth attempted to give them milk, thinking it could help.
“There was nothing I could do, except watch my babies suffer,” said a distraught Mrs Unsworth.
She immediately phoned her husband, and informed him of what had happened.
Upon arrival, he noticed several pieces of minced meat laying in the yard, suggesting the dogs had been poisoned.
“Why would anyone do this? My dogs have never harmed anyone. They were not just dogs, they were family!” she exclaimed.
Mrs Unsworth said her husband took the dogs and the meat to a veterinarian, hoping to confirm whether or not they were poisoned, and if the meat contained any traces of Temik.
According to Mrs Unsworth, the family has resided at their home for nearly 11 years, and had never felt unsafe until now.
With no prior problems or threats, they now wonder what the intention behind the poisoning was?
“Were they targeting our house or was this just an act of pure cruelty?” she asked.
Although it has not yet been confirmed whether the dogs were poisoned, Mrs Unsworth urged all residents to be wary and vigilant of suspicious objects in their yard.
“People should make an effort to inspect their yards every morning and evening, to avoid going through the same pain my family and I had to endure today,” she concluded.
