'We're heartbroken': Winnipeg family's dog dies after being poisoned
A Winnipeg family is in mourning after their beloved dog died from a suspected intentional poisoning.
Ginger was part of Tannis Snyder's life for nearly eight years, but her life was cut short.
"We're heartbroken. We're devastated. I want my dog back," said Snyder.
In early April, Snyder said Ginger started acting strange, so she brought her to a veterinarian.
"She wouldn't eat, so we brought her in. She was in really rough shape. She ended up spending a couple nights out in Stonewall and they took such good care of her, and she came home, and she just couldn't hold food."
After a few trips back and forth to try and figure out what was wrong, it was determined through testing that Ginger had consumed rodent poison.
Tannis Snyder's dog Ginger had to be put dog on July 10, after it was believed Ginger was intentionally poisoned with rat poison. (Source: Tannis Snyder)
Tannis Snyder's dog Ginger had to be put down on July 10, after it was believed Ginger was intentionally poisoned with rat poison. (Source: Tannis Snyder)
"We were just shocked. Utterly shocked," said Snyder. "Where the heck would we get mouse poison? I don't have it in my home. I never buy it, and it just didn't make any sense. We were just all confused, going, 'How did this happen? How could this happen?'"
Ginger had to be put down on July 10. It's believed the poisoning was thrown into the backyard of their Minto area home.
Another dog in that same neighbourhood was also poisoned, according to the Winnipeg Police Service, though that dog recovered. Police said the rodent poison was contained in a plastic bag which was thrown into their yards.
"The troubling part is the way some of these rodenticides work, they can be anticoagulants that can take three to five days before there's any obvious symptoms," said Dr. Ron Worb with the Anderson Animal Hospital and Wellness Center.
He noted some early symptoms may include breathing rapidly, some coughing, and being lethargic.
"As this goes on further, and it goes from internal bleeding to external bleeding, they could vomit with blood in their vomit, they may have bloody feces, they could have swollen joints that are getting filled up with blood, or they start to bruise easily."
Dr. Worb said the sooner you can bring your pet in, the better it is for treatment. He also said it's important to let your veterinarian know if you believe your pet may have consumed poison, so the appropriate steps can be taken.
After Snyder found out her dog had been poisoned, she warned her neighbours to be on the lookout. She's also urging all Winnipeggers—not just those living in the Minto area—to keep an eye on their pets and their backyards.
"If my dog's death can raise awareness of this happening to somebody else, then we could save somebody the pain and loss that we've endured, then it's not for nothing," she said.
Police are encouraging pet owners to report any suspicious circumstances that involve their pet consuming a poisonous substance in their yard, and to immediately seek medical attention for the animal.
Cruelty to animals, which includes intentional poisonings, is a criminal code offence. Those found guilty could spend up to five years in prison or be fined up to $10,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.