Dog owner raises alarm after pet eats poison-laced crackers in Gozo

A Gozo resident has raised the alarm after discovering bright blue poison mixed with food along a popular walking path frequently used by dog owners.

Jess Mercieca Morgan was walking her seven-year-old Labrador, Diesel, along Triq tal-Logga near Ġnien Blankas in Xewkija on Monday evening when the incident occurred.

During the walk, the 32-year-old Xewkija resident noticed Diesel had eaten something suspicious, a cracker mixed with blue poison.

“I opened his mouth and saw a dot of blue poison in his mouth, so then immediately rushed him to the vet as I had no idea how much poison he had swallowed,” said Mercieca Morgan.

The vet concluded that the dog had eaten a large quantity of poison, immediately induced vomiting, and fortunately, Diesel was unharmed, Mercieca Morgan said.  

“The fact that the poison was mixed with Galletti (crackers), and that it was on a public path which is a very popular dog-walking route, makes me think that someone did this deliberately,” she said.

Once home and assured Diesel was stable, she returned to the area and removed what remained of the poison.

“I don't want this to happen to any other dogs, or to poison any wildlife,” she said. 

In 2007, poisoned food was scattered across a wide area of the Ta’ Ċenċ plateau to bait dogs into eating.

“It feels intentional," she said."Maybe I am on high alert after these incidents with the cats, but there is no reason for a farmer to place the poison there." The area, surrounded by rubble walls, is on a public walking route, not farmland.

Last month, several stray cats were found dead or seriously harmed in Sliema. Investigations were launched by the Animal Welfare Department and police.

Mercieca Morgan had a stark message for whoever placed the poison: “To whoever left the poison, you are lucky I didn't see you leaving it there as I would have shoved that poison teabag down your throat myself.”

She urged dog owners to remain alert. “Please keep a close eye on your dogs. It was an incredibly stressful couple of hours, and it was pure luck that I managed to stop Diesel eating more. This could have been a very different story.”

Another dog owner this week launched a petition calling on Parliament to reopen the animal hospital in Ta’ Qali after his dog died from suspected poisoning during a walk.