A dog was today recovering after eating deadly slug pellets believed to have been planted by animal haters.

Ronica Venus was forced to rush her 11-year-old golden labrador Samson to the vets after he started vomiting violently.

She had earlier taken him for a walk along the Downham Road bridleway in Runwell where two years ago police discovered someone had been leaving out poisoned pellets.

It is not certain whether they were targeting pets or other animals such as foxes but at least two dogs died after eating them and officers now fear the problem has begun again.

Ronica, of Carlton Road, Wickford, realised something was terribly wrong when Samson began vomiting.

She took him to Cherrydown Vets in Wickford before he was transferred to the PDSA in Southend.

Staff quickly put him on a drip to combat his dehydration, took X-rays and started him on a cause of antibiotics.

Ronica said: "I thought he was going to die. I think the only thing that saved him was me getting him to the vets so quickly. I'm so relieved he's still alive."

No tests were carried out at the PDSA, so it can't be proved Samson was poisoned. Ronica is convinced he was.

She said: "There were similar incidents two years ago and my friend's very healthy German shepherd died after being in those fields.

"Someone is obviously putting something down, maybe to get rid of the foxes or badgers."

Wickford police are now investigating the possible poisoning.

Community liaison officer PC Geoff Whiter said: "Two years ago in the same location dogs became ill because somebody was putting down slug pellets. Obviously we are concerned this could be happening again."

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