Dog walkers in Cross Hills - please take care

Mystery over spate of dog deaths in North Yorkshire

01.06.11

We're still appealing to dog walkers in the Cross Hills area to take care while we work with North Yorkshire Police and Craven District Council to try to determine what has caused the deaths of several dogs.

Both North Yorkshire Police and ourselves received calls following the deaths of eight dogs between Friday, 20 and Thursday, 26 May.

The dogs fell ill and died after being walked along the same footpath in the village of Cross Hills, Keighley, North Yorkshire.

The footpath, off Station Road, is a popular area for dog owners to walk their pets. 

Trying to determine the cause of death

One veterinary practice in the area admitted five dogs which were suffering from seizures and died shortly afterwards.

Another vet surgery admitted another three dogs which were suffering from similar symptoms and also died.

We are working with North Yorkshire Police and Craven District Council to try to determine the cause of the dogs' deaths. Tests are also being carried out. 

Please steer clear of the footpath

The path has been cordoned off and signs advising dog owners have been put up.

RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) Sally Ramsden said:

We are extremely concerned about this situation.

People are taking their dogs out along this footpath and within less than 20 minutes, the dogs are suffering convulsions and dying.

We don't know what could be causing this but we strongly suspect that the dogs may have been poisoned. We also cannot rule out the possibility that this is being done deliberately.

These dogs have suffered horrendously and we desperately need to hear from anyone who has information about these incidents.

In the meantime, we really need people to stop walking their dogs on this footpath.

 

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Can you help?

If you have any information at all that may help this investigation, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, please contact any of the following. 

• RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line: 0300 1234 999
   
• North Yorkshire Police: 0845 60 60 24 7
   
• Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

All calls are treated in the strictest confidence.
 

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