Stefan Cieslik walks his dogs Maurice and Poppy on Rockcliffe Road near the location where some tainted wieners were found. Shown here are the pieces with an unknown medication inside. Top photo by Lyonel Doherty
It appears someone in Oliver doesn’t like dogs and is trying to poison them.
Pet owners in the Rockcliffe/Morningstar neighbourhood are being warned about wiener treats laced with pills.
Two or three dog owners have reported finding small pieces of wieners with medication inside them.
One such owner is Stefan Cieslik, whose dog found a tainted wiener last Wednesday morning on Rockcliffe Road. Luckily, Cieslik saw his dog pick up the treat, so he jerked the leash, which prompted his pet to drop the wiener.
He explained that the wiener had an “X” cut into the bottom, and a pill was shoved inside the “X.”
“Whoever the perpetrator is, he knows how to do it, and he’s doing it quite deliberately,” Cieslik said. “I guess he’s trying very hard to cause harm.”
Fortunately, none of the dogs that found the tainted wieners have been sick yet, he pointed out.
“I would hate to see somebody’s family pet falling really ill.”
Cieslik said there are people in Oliver who don’t like animals and will often swear and shout at dogs in the neighbourhood.
“Some people feel strongly if a dog poops in their yard. I can understand that . . . but to try and kill the dogs . . . I find that bizarre and disturbing.”
Cieslik worries about small children who walk in the neighbourhood. What if a child happens to pick up one of these tainted wieners?
“It’s unlikely, but the idea is horrifying.”
The dog owner concluded by warning others to be vigilant and observant.
The Oliver RCMP have taken samples of the medication and are continuing to investigate.
Sergeant Blaine Gervais said it’s a “critical” issue that deserves more of an in-depth look, including knocking on some doors.
This is a relief to one resident whose dog found several pieces of tainted wieners in the neighbourhood, including a couple on the corner of Fairview and Rockcliffe. It appeared the wieners had a pink pill or a pinkish-white substance inside them.
The woman, who did not want to be identified, said pet owners are now hyper-vigilant.
“I was taken aback. It’s so unnerving to have a close neighbour possibly doing this to you.”
The resident said the RCMP have assured her that they are taking this seriously . . . “but there’s not much they can do unless we catch the person in the act.”
When dog owner Pat Hampson learned what was going on, he thought it was an “unconscionable act” that could involve a small child discovering one of the treats.
“The police have to catch the culprit in the act before serious action can be taken; but this is becoming very dangerous and should become the focus of our detachment even if they are only able to conduct a door-to-door investigation; that would at least be a warning to the person who we believe is the culprit.”
Hampson said they have a good idea of who the perpetrator may be.
“I would suggest that if any of the dog owners or parents on Rockcliffe or Morningstar catch the perpetrator setting out poisoned wieners, the situation will escalate rapidly.”
Hampson suggested that some proactive policing is called for in this matter.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
