Colchester dog owners are being warned to take extra care whilst walking their pooches after several reports of dogs eating rat poison.

A vets practice put out a warning last week after “several possible cases of dogs ingesting rat poison in the Highwoods area and Castle Park”.

And one angry dog owner had to take his German Shepherd to have its stomach pumped after walking at Mile End Recreation Ground, off Ford Lane. 

Lee Bodfield spotted Sheba, 10, eating something off the ground and quickly made his way over.

On closer inspection he discovered she had been eating pink pills of rat poison, which were disguised amongst dog biscuits.

Mr Bodfield, 47, said: “We go over the recreation ground a fair amount.

“We don’t normally let her off the lead as she has lots of health problems but we took her over there as we heard there was a big puddle and she loves playing in puddles.

“I saw her nibbling something off the ground.

“I didn’t think it was anything to worry about at first but then I went over and realised it was pink pellets.

“They had been placed with dog biscuits on top. It was obviously planned.”

Sheba had to have her stomach pumped after ingesting the poison Mr Bodfield, who lives off Mill Road in Colchester, immediately took Sheba to the vets where she had to have her stomach pumped.

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She is now back home but will have to be monitored closely over the coming days.

Mr Bodfield said: “Luckily she didn’t eat too much of it. If she was a Labrador it would have been different.

“I have put it on Facebook and asked people to share it as much as possible to get the word out.

“I am going to have a walk over there too to warn any dog walkers who might not use social media.

“The vets told me there have been other instances in Highwoods too.”

Mr Bodfield has hit out at the heartless person who put the rat poison out on the recreation ground.

He said: “From the way it was planned it appears they are a nasty piece of work.

“During Covid in particular people’s dogs can be their lifelines.

“They are not just animals they are best friends and can be the only company some people have if they live on their own.

“It could have been a kid who picked it up thinking it was a sweet.”

He added: “She has enough health problems already without this.”

Vets4Pets, which is based at the Colne View Retail Park, Colchester, issued a warning to residents said it had seen “several possible cases of dogs ingesting rat poison in the Highwoods area and Castle Park”.

The poison had again been disguised within dog treats.

Rat poison can cause internal bleeding in dogs and can lead to death in some cases.

If you think your dog has eaten some you should visit a veterinary straight away.