Police say no dogs have yet been reported sick, but local owners are concerned about their pets after a “suspicious” blue substance was discovered at the Fergus Dog Park last weekend.
“Apparently someone has contaminated kibble and thrown (it) around the park,” one user wrote on the CWDOG/Fergus Dog Park Facebook page on Sunday.
“This could make your dog sick or lead to death. This may just be a rumour right now, but be careful.”
Another user suggested this was not the first incident at the dog park on Glengarry Crescent, posting, “Strange food back at the park again this morning.”
Officials with the OPP and Centre Wellington Township confirmed there was a substance found at the park last weekend.
OPP media relations officer Cheri Rockefeller said police received a report on Jan. 31 at 10:42am of “suspicious looking blue patches with white pellets, possibly dog food, in the snow at the dog park.”
Rockefeller said police attended with a Centre Wellington employee, who removed the substance. She added police have not received any reports of sick dogs.
Some have speculated the blue substance could be antifreeze, but Rockefeller said that has not been confirmed.
Centre Wellington managing director of community services Brian Detzler told the Advertiser the substance was found in one location at the park.
“The area of concern seems to have been in one localized area, which was on the edge of the public lands and the private lands adjacent to the dog park,” Detzler wrote in a Feb. 1 email.
“The investigating officer determined there was no need for further investigation into this manner and staff removed the affected snow along with the couple pieces of kibble in a plastic bad and disposed of it appropriately.”
Detzler added the park remains open to the public and the township encourages anyone who sees activity they are concerned about to contact the police immediately.
Police suggest keeping dogs on a leash and always watching them. Call 1-888-310-1122 to report anything suspicious.
