Any Dog owners near Sherwood Forest? poisoning warning

mariauk

I have just received this information from Animal_Rehoming_UK which is one of my Yahoo groups. PLEASE be careful if you walk your dogs in or near this area.


Sherwood Forest, Notts.

Just had an urgent email from the manager of my local rescue centre warning me not to go to the woods with my dogs because 15 dogs have
already died of suspected poisoning

There are woods situated all round the village - we are within Sherwood Forest - so trying to establish which ones are the problem.

It could be someone deliberately laying bait for dogs to take, something the Forestry Commission have put down or a naturally occuring toxin (
like the blue algae on stagnant ponds which affects the nervous systems
and produces symptoms of poisoning).

foreign_correspondent

is this definitely kosher? - I sometimes walk there, but have not heard of anything... ? I can only find the same message posted on a dog forum when I google 'sherwood forest dog poisoning' - which village does it refer to specifically, do you know? (sherwood forest covers a large area)

Thanks for posting it though, I would rather be worried unnecessarily than not know about a poisoning risk!

mariauk

Well its from the administrator of [EMAIL="Animal_Rehoming_UK@yahoogroups.co.uk"]Animal_Rehoming_UK@yahoogroups.co.uk[/EMAIL]

who collates information regarding lost/missing and found dogs in that area amongst others. I`m sure she wouldn`t of sent it to all the members if it wasn`t kosha? Even if it turns out to be untrue, surely it`s best to post it just incase? I would hate the thought of anyone`s dog suffering because I chose to ignore it because It`s not my area or concern. Better to be safe than sorry F.C.

foreign_correspondent

from Mansfield 103.2 fm website:

Thursday 24th September, 2009
Walkers Warning After Dog Deaths

Dog walkers are being warned to be extra careful in a part of woodland near Blidworth.

The Forestry Commission, who are in charge of Haywood Oaks, is investigating the deaths of three dogs who have been there recently.

Their advice is that people can still go there but must keep their animals on a lead and in their sights at all times.

Notices are being put up to that effect in the car park there.

Meanwhile, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) say they are also looking into what may be the cause and toxicology reports could be prepared.

I was in those woods at the weekend, with two dogs - both are fine luckily

mariauk

Glad your dogs are ok, Lets hope others are not affected!

foreign_correspondent

mariauk wrote: »

Glad your dogs are ok, Lets hope others are not affected!

yeah, thanks for posting! - I have crossposted to try and let others know - it sounds like the forestry commision are putting posters up though, which is someting!

moomin5

Thats a bit worrying we take our dogs out over Blidworth woods sometimes, but don't tend to go over to the Haywood oaks side. I hope they can find the cause.

foreign_correspondent

still cannot find any more on this, other than the info already posted above - nothing on the local rag's website... quite odd, and frustrating too as I don't know if it just affects bilsthorpe woods or others in the area...

foreign_correspondent

Warning signs have been put up in Nottinghamshire woodland after at least three dogs died and five others were taken ill. Tests are being carried out on the animals, which had been on Forestry Commission land near Sherwood Forest.
Vets believe poisoning is the most likely cause but said the source could be natural.
Owners have been advised to keep dogs on a lead in Haywood Oaks, Blidworth Woods, Sherwood Pines and Thieves Wood.

Natural England, which is carrying out the tests, said investigations were ongoing but searches of the area had not revealed any obvious cause.
'Severely ill'
A number of other animals were taken ill but have since recovered and the Forestry Commission said they had received reports that more animals had died.
Cheri Fearn, from Sutton in Ashfield, said her Patterdale terrier Bracken died "howling in pain" and her puppy Misty was seriously ill.
She said: "They were being sick, they had diarrhoea, they were going off their back legs and basically were not right.
"We took them to the vets who admitted them straight away and gave them antibiotics and sedatives to calm them down and take away the pain as their bodies swelled in pain."
Vet Jon Ruben said: "They were very severely ill, partially collapsed, semi-comatosed and breathing with great difficulty.
"It is probably a poison but we have no idea what, particularly as the dogs were not seen to eat anything and nothing obvious was vomited up."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_8282000/8282045.stm