Animal charity ‘Animals in Need Donegal’ has appealed to people to stop putting down poison after a spate of cat poisonings in the village of Ballintra, Co Donegal
A village has been rocked by a series of cat poisonings over the Christmas period, with one beloved pet dead and three others narrowly rescued by veterinary intervention.
The incidents have deeply unsettled the Ballintra community in in Co Donegal and prompted an urgent plea from local animal charity Animals in Need Donegal for residents to cease using poison. They are currently investigating whether the poisonings were deliberate or an accidental consequence of rodent control efforts gone awry.
A spokesperson told the Irish Mirror: “We have been contacted by a distraught pet owner who lost their cat to what appeared to be poisoning last night. This is the fourth cat in the area, Fair Green of Ballintra, to have been exposed. The other three cats got to the vets in time to be saved, so this is the first fatality we know of.”
The spokesman highlighted the agony poisoning can inflict on animals, stating it can cause severe pain and terror not only to the animals but also to their owners who must bear witness. They added: “The symptoms of poisoning is distressing: frothing at the mouth and wobbly walk before collapsing. Urgent vet care is essential to give the cat a chance of survival.”
“Cat poisoning can be accidental, with the poison having been laid for rodents or could be deliberately aimed at cats. If aimed at cats deliberately, it is often seen in areas with a large number of unneutered cats that keep breeding and someone has enough (yet another reason to neuter). This is NOT an excuse, but a justification we have heard in the past.”
“The cat could also have caught and eaten an already poisoned rodent, this also happens to owls and other wildlife. Rodent traps are always recommended rather than poison if you have a bad rodent infestation as poisoning is cruel, and you can not control who’s the victims. Please be vigilant around the Ballintra area.”
