Updated: Tue Jun. 24 2008 7:28:27 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

A deadly poison, meant to lure animals, has been spread throughout a west-end Toronto park, where dogs often roam off-leash, police confirmed Tuesday.

Investigators confirmed two dogs have died and four others are recovering after somebody deliberately spread different sources of poison throughout High Park.

A mixture of what appeared to be whole wheat bread and flax seed was discovered by police Tuesday morning about five minutes from Dog Hill, a section of the park where dogs often roam free.

A toxic liquid was poured over the bread mix, Det. Suzanne Pinto told reporters at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

"It was designed for the exact purpose to lure animals," she said.

It is believed the mix was ingested by one of the sick dogs.

"Everything around the area (where the bread mix was found), like plants, died," said Pinto. "It was in an area of political debate."

Police are investigating whether the poison was put in the park by someone who does not support a plan to designate a section of the park as an off-leash area for dogs.

Pinto told reporters at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that police are also investigating whether raccoons fell victim to the poisoning.

An "unusually high" number of dead raccoons have been found over the past several weeks but police were never called and the carcasses were tossed in the garbage.

Now that poison has been linked to the park, police believe about 12 raccoons ate a toxic substance and died.

Pinto said the dead animals had been found in unusual positions. One raccoon's body was posed holding a bouquet of flowers and another was found holding a dead squirrel.

"The same person would have had access to the raccoons the moment they died," Pinto said. "Who knows maybe they were testing the poison on the raccoons.

"It's a sick twisted joke to somebody but not to anybody else," she said.

She said dog owners should keep their pets on a leash while in the park and to always keep a close eye on things they put in their mouth. Parents are also being warned about leaving their small children unattended.

"We are sweeping the park and are co-ordinating our efforts with the city's parks staff and volunteers," she said.

Six dogs who played in the park over the weekend fell ill after drinking from a water source on Dog Hill. Testing confirmed the water was laced with antifreeze.

The detective said she believes animals are being maliciously targeted.

"Too many things have happened that are beyond coincidence," she said.

Dog owners say they're shocked and disgusted by the turn of events.

"I don't know how anybody can be so cruel," one woman told CTV Toronto.

"It's terrifying," said another park goer. "We let our dog off the leash all the time on Dog Hill. The fact that someone would do that is just terrifying."

Recent changes to the Criminal Code have made it an indictable offence to poison a pet or to leave poison somewhere a pet could easily ingest it.

Comments are now closed for this story

Alan
When, I repeat when, they catch this very sick person who is responsible for poisoning these family pets, I hope the judicial system we have locally punishes them with more than the typical slap on the wrist that seems to be the norm in Ontario. While pets are not humans, this is still murder. Justice should be served!

Ron in NB
Someone is playing a very dangerous game. If it were my dog, and I found out who did it, they would have plenty of time to ponder their despicable actions while recovering in the hospital. You may as well poison my kids, the consequences would be the same.

Leslie Leblanc
How sick can people be !! It seems that some people have no more morals or care for life.!!! poisoning animals TO TRY TO PROVE WHAT !! Can this person explain to me why !!

Sick of people
Some people are just so bloody sick and twisted. It could have been a child!

This is just another reason to ban the production and sale of antifreeze containing ethylene glycol. There are alternatives, such as propylene glycol, which work as well and would save the lives of children and animals.

Diane N
I agree with Ron in NB...my Jack Russell is my furry child and dont..I repeat dont be mucking with him..When caught this person should be fed arsenic.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!!!
This is a sick person who kills animals for fun. This person(s) should be locked away for a very long time.

Part of the problem is that the peanlity for animal cruelity is so lax that people get away with such heinous acts. If you fish without a license you loose your boat and potentially your car. You kill dogs for fun, what happens - a small fine?

How about this - minimum $100 000 fine and 5 years in prison. Simple. Go spend some time with inmates who will redefine animal creulity for you.

Mickey
In the past ten years I have actually had two different neighbours stupid enough to try and poison animals with antifreeze. One was trying to kill cats that wandered in her front garden and the other was trying to kill squirrels who came in her yard to eat the bird seed. The first, I told that they would be charged with murder if a child happenned to wander on the yard and drink the antifreeze. The look on her face was priceless, it just never even occurred to her that might happen in a townhome neighbourhood littered with small kids.She immediately removed the poison. The other actually lined the pathway to a city park with little bowls of antifreeze. I called the police in that case. There is no end to the stupidity and cruelty of people.

kate
I can't believe someone would do this to those poor little animals. I live in the High Park area and the park is huge! There is room for everyone and the dogs don't bother anyone as they are in their own area and no I don't have a dog so I"m not being biased. It saddens me that people will resort to such tactics - if you don't like dogs then stay away from their area, we humans don't own the planet - we just act like we do.

MP.
More proof that some people simply haven't fully evolved.

Bob Bobson
Maybe the pet owners should exercise more responsibility and ensure that their pet is safe and on a leash.

David
If people didn't let there dogs terrorize other people, I am sure people would not be poisoning there animals.

I have been jumped on buy so many dirty stinky dogs, I can only think that the dogs and there irresponsible owners are getting what was coming to them.

meghal
Kind of ironic, that the same people who will lament the death of dog will have no guilt eating a chicken or beef or pork.

Double standards???!!!

Rickey Richard
You must realize that some people get nervous when a unknown dog comes anywhere near. I am 100% for animal protection be it pets or wildlife. In a lot of cases I have more pashion for animals then humans. But animal owners have to be proactive when watching pets in public. These people who would harm in any way life to make a point are the worst form of coward and lower than any animal.

Mary
I agree that this is absolutely terrible, and agree that the penetrators should be severely punished. Furthermore, what if a child were to accidentally ingest the water?

A side note to anyone who might have the misfortune of having a pet ingest ethylene glycol: Feeding drinking alcohol (ie vodka, etc) to a pet that has ingested ethylene glycol can save it. The body metabolizes alcohol preferentially over ethylene glycol, so the poison may be excreted before it kills the pet. That being said, too much alcohol will obviously also kill an animal, so caution should be exercised, but before euthanization, this can be an option.

Mark in Toronto
There really are some small minded and vindictive people in the world. Why on earth would you poison the dogs drinking water?

From reading the article is seems that someone is opposed to the off-leash areas in High Park and this is their way of showing how they feel. I would not be surprised if it's someone who does not like dogs and was walking in the off leash area and thinks the dogs should be on leashes at all times.

I've experienced people like that in High Park, and my comment to them is that it's an off leash area, and signposted as such, if you don't like dogs, don't walk in an off-leash area!

Let's hope the person responsible for this is apprehended and punished.

AK
What about wildlife? I can only assume, where dogs are free to drink, local squirrels, skunks, racoons and birds will be making free with the water, assuming the dogs are not present at the time.
How many innocent lives has this actually cost?

LB
I sincerely hope they catch whoever did this and punish them severely. People that abuse animals are capable of doing the same to humans - they are SICK. The animal cruelty laws are still not tough enough in this country. My heart goes out to those who lost their dogs and to those whose dogs are ill - I don't know what I would do if this happened to my dog.

Cly Wu
The owners are to be blamed as much as the perpetrator. I am a dog owner myself and I am too sick of seeing the way people take care of their pets. Pets ownership is a privilege not a right.

I always pick after my dog, the same can't be said about 90% of the owners out there. These type of irresponsible owners are just as sick as the perpetrator. I can totally see how one can be fed up with the "crap" that is left by these owners in the park. The new law should include punishment and fines to those that do not clean up after their pets. That is the only real solution to both sides.

Seb
While this whole case is unfortunate and unlawful and clearly the people need to be caught there are a number of issues in High Park that should be mentioned. It feels like at least 1/2 the park is off-leash area - is this park primarily for enjoyment of people or dogs? All too often owners of what they feel are "well trained" dogs have dogs off leash in clearly posted leashed areas. Second, I've seen people barked at, jumped on by dogs that have been in water/mud, etc. in High Park. I've seen children and parents who walk in the walking paved paths approached by off-leash pets who run up and want to lick them, play with them, or maybe bite them - you never know. Shakespeare in the park - I've seen it interrupted of off leash dogs too. Not to mention the frequent poop I personaly have to avoid when walking with a stroller.

The balance of pets and people in High Park in perticular and some other parks as well has been lost. These acts are certianly not a solution, but it's about time there was a NO DOGS areas in High Park - for people, families, children. And about time the City enforced some of the dog related bylaws visibly to ensure public/chirdren feel like their park space is being protected. I'm sure good enforcement and bylaw officer visibilty would also take away the triggers that make people do such crazy things.

MM
I don't understand why anyone would do this to any animal. Penalties need to be much more severe. I hope the perpetrator is caught soon and is punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Jean - London
As an experienced owner of three dogs, I would strongly suggest that the dogs be kept on leash at all times and that water dishes and water be taken by the owner(s) thereby protecting the beloved pet and your own bank account. I personally find this act of poisoning an innocent animal deplorable. What if a toddler or young child were to drink this water????

Desi
Ron and Alan,
I couldn't agree with you more. It seems Canada is still quite behind other countries when it comes to protecting animals from mistreatment and abuse. What some fail to note is that human beings fall in the category of FAUNA not flora. There are only two if you want to break down the organic world. So, yes, people are considered animals too. We should have the same kind of punishments/penalties for those warped and sick individuals who aim to maim dogs...
Not to get off topic, but, for instance, did you know horses are no longer slaughtered in the States but are so in Canada?! Canada is way behind in changing our attitudes and comportment towards animals. Come on, get with it Canada!!!

Tessa
I'm so sorry to hear about the second dog dying. I know how hard that must be for the families.
I go to this park several times a week, and this could have also happened to my dog. But I would hate to see this end in fear in dog owners, who will stop taking their dogs to High Park. Because if this happens, they win!
So I would say, be careful of course, but don't stop coming to High Park.

Helen
Well... two cats were poisoned and died in Berwick, NS last month. A third cat got really sick too but did not die. I cannot believe somebody is deliberately doing this!!!

scott
for those who think that these owners " get what coming to them ", get a grip. what if your child picked something up in the park and ate it, I think you would be singing a different tune. Grow up ! I hope these people are put away for a long time

Karen
Although there are two sides to the story, there is no side when it comes to killing innocent victims. That is what the matter is really all about, right? This person is definitely sick and it has been proven that people that start by killing animals go on to doing the same to people. This person needs to be caught now before anything worse happens!!

david
Too bad about the dogs, but I notice that murdered dogs get more news coverage than the two young men gunned down in Toronto.

Max
While I can understand why certain people get ticked off while trying to enjoy a public park when they're subjected to roaming, bounding, and free-crapping dogs and their (all too often)inconsiderate, self-absorbed, clueless owners, it truly takes a psychopathic character to devise and implement a lethal means of dealing with the problem. Anyone capable of such an effort is someone I don't want walking around freely in my world. Dogs aren't people, as some kooky dog/animal-lovers foolishly rationalize, but, they are a valued form of life that deserves kindness, love and respect. (Chickens, cows, and pigs aren't "valued" as part of the family; they're a food commodity. Come on, folks.) I hope they catch the nut(s) and their punishment is severe.

anthony
Simple solution.

As per the law keep your dog on a leash, that way you should be able to observe whatever it may be eating.

And please, if you're in a park,please pick up the feces because that may be the root of the problem.

Sandra
Any person who would poison an innocent animal, is a coward and an evil menace to society. Unfortunately, our laws are very lax when it comes to animal cruelty. The issue isn't just about killing dogs but the picture is much bigger. This person has probably committed other despicable acts in their life. Usually people who would abuse an animal continue on to abuse and eventually murder people. I guess we have to wait for this sick individual to murder someone for true justice to be served. I have two furry children and I can only imagine the pain and anguish the families are feeling about their pets who were poisoned. My heart goes out to you.

donda
I'm with Ron from NB!! This is just wrong - I hope this person pays.

wendy w
I feel for these poor people. I feel for them.. I live in regina and someone poisoned my dogs in my yard(these are not outside dogs) they go out to play and poo thats it... Anyone who has ever seen an animal that has been poisoned die would never justify it. It is terribly painful. In my case antifreeze poisoning. It binds to the kidney and causes renal failure. To poison the dogs and say they had it comeing is like poisoning them for doing what is in their nature to do.

LMB
This is a disgusting act of cowardice. It is not the way to get dogs out of the park or to punish irresponsible owners. Where is our sense of rationality?

Animals do not deserve to die this way. If how we treat our animals is a reflection of ourselves as a civilized society, then this picture doesn't bode well.

Karine
For those who claim that "irresponsible owners are getting what was coming to them" needs to seriously rethink what he or she is saying. To deliberately harm any living thing be it a dog or wild animal is NOT justifiable! I understand some people do not like dogs, however this does NOT give anyone the right to poison them. (even if some owners are irresponsible) There are all kinds of people- but most dog owners who go to High Park regularly are responsible owners who genuinely care for the environment of the park and others who frequent it.
To claim that anyone had it coming is just as sick and twisted as the perpetrator. Young children could have been poisoned as well!