A group of Belfast dog walkers have expressed shock and concern after they discovered dog food laced with tacks on a walk on Tuesday morning.
The group found the food at various points along a trail in south Belfast on an early-morning walk, before removing the pointed thumb tacks and reporting the matter to the police.
They have expressed concern about the harm and suffering that could be caused to animals that ingest any of the food.
The walkers reported the matter to the police
The group meet up in south Belfast daily to walk their dogs. Their routes often take them around the Shaw’s Bridge and Malone House areas.
One of the walkers, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Belfast Telegraph: “We walk the dogs every morning before we go into work, to let them settle.”
“We noticed some of the dogs sniffing around one of the trees at Shaw’s Bridge, just as you come into where Malone House is.
“It was actually the dogs that found more than us. The dogs we have are older now, so they wouldn’t pick anything up, but they brought our attention to it.”
As it was dark, the walkers were using a torch and discovered balls of dog food left around the base of the tree.
When the torch was shone on balls of dog food, they noticed something “shining” in the light.
After investigating, they discovered the tacks in the dog food.
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The dog walker has experience with dogs being harmed by things they find while out and about, after one of their dogs fell ill after eating a substance on a walk in the Mournes.
Worried that other walkers might not spot the tacks, the group removed all of the pieces of food that they found around the tree, putting them inside a refuse bag.
“We thought that was it, until we went into the forest. We found another two or three bits, and we continued right up to the Queen’s pitches, and we found another two or three bits.
“Somebody has set them down there. It’s as well we found them, but it’s not right. It’s cruel.”
Once they had brought them home, they took photos of the dog food and shared them on a Facebook dog walking group.
“We would put up things if there was broken glass, or a road closed that you cant walk on, that’s what the group is about.”
The dog food discovered in south Belfast
Members of the Facebook group expressed shock at the discovery, with several suggesting it should be reported to the police.
Other members described a sense of disbelief at the motives behind someone leaving the food out, and the potential harm it could cause dogs.
The dog walker phoned the police, and informed them about what happened. He was told they would contact the relevant authorities.
Queen’s University, which owns some of the land on which the food was found, say they have not received any reports, but that staff will carry out extra patrols of the area and “will remain vigilant”.
The USPCA has not received any reports of the incident directly, but said: “The USPCA is deeply concerned by the social media reports of dog food being laced with pins and left in a park in south Belfast.
“This is a dangerous and malicious act that puts the lives of animals at risk and is utterly unacceptable.
“We urge all pet owners to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or potential hazards in public spaces to the local council and to the PSNI immediately.
“If you are concerned about your pet’s safety, please keep them on a lead and closely supervise them during walks, particularly in areas where suspicious activity has been reported.”