We need Sherlock Bones...

This year we seem to be hearing more and more reports of dogs being poisoned.
We've all heard the rumours but it's rare to hear directly from those effected.

Today I got a very sad email...

"Two little Beagles, six years old and eight years old, died on Sunday afternoon from suspected poisoning. They had been on a walk on Doverow Hill in Stroud as part of a gang (two Bassets, one Beagle cross, one Husky and two GSD).
It is suspected that the two Beagles have eaten something on the hill although this was not known at the time. Sunday morning they became very ill and were rushed to a local vets where one passed away mid afternoon and the other one was put to sleep as it was inevitable she wasn't going to survive.
"I understand the local police have been informed.
"The reason I am contacting you is to see whether you could contact the owners (my daughter and her partner) as cases like this remain unexplained and we would like to raise awareness and hope some good may come of this. We will possibly never get the answers and it will never bring the little girls back but will now do all we can to try to get some clues."

We've had several other reports of dogs dying after walking in parks or on beaches.
So what is going on? Is this happening more or just being reported more?
Are there more anti-dog mad folk around than there used to be? Sick folk deliberately leaving poisoned food out?
If by reporting on poisonings have the press inadvertently encouraged other nutters to copy this cowardly and cruel behaviour? 
Or could there be a slightly less evil reason for these cases?
Could we be seeing pest control being used irresponsibly?
Could people trying to kill off rats, foxes and even diseased badgers but be leaving the bait around that our dogs are eating, too?
Or could the bait be eaten by small animals and excreted?
Could new poisons be being used or pesticides? New more toxic and attractive substances?
Does anyone else have any theories?
Do you know of any confirmed poisonings and any firm information?
Have any of these dogs had autopsies?
Do we know what type of poison has being used?
Those poor Beagles. What a tragedy.
Let's pool information and if this is a pattern to this, let's try to uncover it.
Any information on poisonings please email me beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk

I've had another email this time from Ben, one of the dogs' owner. Here's a photo of poor Trio (left) and Widget (right) who both died on Sunday.

"Thank you so much for your support.
"There is no hard evidence as yet, however the most likely explanation given the strength of the toxin and the method used to deliver it is that someone has been trying to poison badgers.
"According to the local RSPCA inspector, a farm-grade slug pellet (which have no taste inhibitor) used in a high concentration with bait such as nuts & peanuts (which the girls were later vomiting) is a common means to illegally kill badgers and other animals.
"We were able to secure a sample of Trio's vomit, so hopefully tests can be carried out to identify the poison.
 "There are not words to describe how we feel at the moment, but the thought that we can help to stop other people from suffering gives us some comfort

"We were in Stroud in Gloucestershire. We are lucky to still have 6 beautiful dogs. If the girls weren't such greedy pigs then so many more could have died.

"The amount of support people have given us is humbling, and shows how we really are a nation of dog lovers, despite the few who carry out acts like this.
Here is a link to the newspaper article: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Beloved-beagles-die-poisoned-Doverow-Hill/story-16355167-detail/story.html "

Ben

 I will start to collate a list of other reported poisoning cases, if you know of any reports can you email me them? beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk I am grateful to Lizzy Raymer for this first link:

Poisoning in Crowthorne, Berkshire http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2113103_distraught_owners_of_poisoned_dog_warn_others_to_beware