Alert after several dogs found to have been poisoned in south-west France
Cases are widespread in and around Bordeaux and reports are increasing
An interactive map has been created to track potentially dangerous areas for dogsCatherine Leuger / GoogleMaps (13/02/25), Maria Sbytova / Shutterstock
Three further cases of dog poisonings have been reported: in the Parc de Mussonville (February 13), in Bordeaux鈥檚 jardin public (February 16), and in the Parc de Cantefr锚ne in Ambes (February 16).
The case of poisoning in Ambes is suspected to have been caused by the ingestion of paracetamol. Symptoms appeared several days after the dog in question was last in a public area and it is not certain that the dog will survive, reports actuBordeaux.
Several dogs have died after consuming poison in public areas around Bordeaux since early February.
A Malinois died as a result of eating poisoned meatballs in the Parc Beauval (February 4), and deaths have also been reported near Lac de Versein and l鈥橝telier des Citernes in the neighbourhood of Am茅d茅e Saint-Germain (February 5).
The number of alerts continues to rise.
鈥淥ne of our clients was walking their dog, a Staffie named Saya, in the woods of Can茅jan when the dog ate something off the ground which contained poison,鈥� Lucile Peyrat, a dog trainer and the owner of Les Amis de Lulu, told The Connexion.
She explained that Saya started convulsing in the car and was taken straight to the vet. Luckily, the dog received treatment quickly and was able to be saved.
Mystery poison
A photo circulating on social media shows a chocolate bar covered with coloured granules while other reports mention poisoned carcasses and meatballs.
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No analysis has been conducted to confirm which type of poison is being used, where it comes from or who is putting it there.
鈥淚t attacks the neurological system鈥� If your dog begins to behave abnormally, if they are drooling a lot, if they are trembling, if they are not acting themselves - head straight for the nearest vet,鈥� said Lucile, who alerted her clients and local community via social media.
Solidarity on social media
Other dog lovers have been keen to spread the message, including Catherine Leuger, a trainee vet assistant and owner of a Beagle named Marvel.
Catherine and her dog, Marvel, on a woodland walkCatherine Leuger
Catherine took the initiative to share informative posts and poison alerts on Instagram, in the hope that 鈥渃ases will start to reduce as more dog owners will be vigilant to the problem.鈥�
She also thinks it may prevent the culprit(s) from placing the poison.
Interactive map
Similar cases of poisoning are reported in Bordeaux every year. This year, however, the cases have been more deadly and widespread.
This inspired Catherine to create an indicating potentially dangerous spots where poison has been found.
The map was made a couple of days after the poisonings were first reported (February 6) and only features confirmed cases, rather than unverified alerts of food having been dropped in public spaces.
The poisonings have been added to an existing map that locates places where dogs have been stolen or fallen ill.
Catherine also highlighted messages from her followers encouraging dog owners with devices to update the network, which can share poison notifications with other users.
Sharing public spaces
鈥淚 think the problem stems from people who don鈥檛 accept the presence of animals in urban spaces,鈥� said Catherine, who remembers when Bordeaux鈥檚 Jardin Public was targeted with poison after neighbouring residents were unhappy about the noise of barking dogs.
Les Amis de Lulu is a leisure centre for dogsLucile Peyrat
Lucile believes that tensions may arise in part due to owners who allow their dogs to 鈥渢ake possession鈥� of parks and public areas without consideration for others.
鈥淲e want all dog owners who bring their dogs into public places to understand that you should not unleash your dog if they cannot be controlled,鈥� explained Lucile.
Dogsitters and dog trainers remark that some owners are scared and no longer have the confidence to take their dog outside, 鈥渂ut these animals need social contact,鈥� Catherine said.
She highlighted that dog owners can help to protect their pets from danger by using certain techniques such as training them to refuse bait, using an extendable lead, and not releasing the dogs in public spaces.
