Tips on safeguarding your pets

As dog poisonings are on the rise on the West Rand, the Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch (RNW) took part in a presentation and training titled ‘Two Steps Ahead’ on Saturday, 29 June.

Two step, which is commercially known as Aldicarb or Temik is said to be the substance most often used to poison dogs.

A RNW newsletter describes Two step is an organophosphate that, when ingested, causes failure of the nervous system leading to the traumatic and painful death of your pet.

“It affects all muscles in the body, including the ability to breath, the heartbeat and the intestines. It is a black/ dark-grey granular substance resembling over-sized poppy seeds and is usually placed in pieces of meat and thrown over the perimeter walls into the premises.”

During the presentation, a representative from the K9 Classroom gave valuable guidelines and recommendations on how to safeguard your pets:

• Keep your pet inside your house at night for both their and your safety and security.

• When letting your dog out in the morning, walk the perimeter of your property and check for any bait that may have been thrown into the property.

• Train your dog only to eat in one area and only food that has been placed into its bowl.

• Train your dog to ‘leave’ on command anything that might have been placed on the floor or presented to it by a stranger.

The newsletter explained that criminals are very creative when it comes to enticing the dogs to accept poisoned food.

“Even though your home may not be the target of crime, your barking dog may be seen as a hindrance to anybody targeting your neighbour’s house; so always be alert to this,” read the letter.

Community members are urged to keep a poison preservation kit, of which the details can be obtained at the RNW operations (ops) room.

“When your pet is part of your home security, you have a reciprocal obligation to protect it. However, when you discover that your pet has been poisoned, use the poison preservation kit and get your pet to a vet immediately,” stated the letter.

Some personal safety tips were also given:

• Avoid direct contact with any poisoned bait, saliva, body fluids or other bodily secretions and always put on gloves first. (These are enclosed in your kit.)

• Your dog may show signs of aggression, so approach carefully.

• Keep the animal warm with a light blanket and take it to the vet immediately. Please be sure to give your vet as much detailed information as possible.

• If the animal is already experiencing seizures when you find it, do not attempt to induce vomiting as the animal may aspirate and inhale the poison into its lungs.

The poison preservation kits can be ordered through the Ops Room and can be collected from there to be kept at home for easy access in case of an emergency.

The kits are said to come ready prepared for different size animals, so residents need to be sure to order the kit appropriate for their dog.

“The kit is non-toxic to humans and animals, and has no expiry date. Please report all dog poisonings to the Ops Room so that extra patrols can be arranged and also alert your security company service provider. Please report any suspicious activity around your property to the Ops Room and where possible give a detailed description of the suspect,” said Andreas Oberlechner, the RNW chairperson and legal adviser.

The Ops Room number is 081 043 9488.