Animal Welfare Helderberg has put out an urgent plea for help as they are dealing with a suspected mass dog poisoning incident in Lwandle.

The organisation was called out to the area this morning after receiving some calls.

On arrival at the scene, Inspector Kyle Girodo discovered that numerous dogs, within a few blocks of each other, were either dead or dying.

It’s believed that meat was laced with an unknown substance. 11 dogs have died, while 7 are receiving treatment at Animal Welfare Helderberg.

“It was like something out of a horror movie. There were dead dogs lying in the yards. And so we gathered up all the live ones that we could and sped back to Animal Welfare Helderberg, and we started treatment immediately.”

The dogs were put on drips immediately, and the on-site veterinarian and medical team all jumped in to help the animals as far as possible.

Girodo says they suspect the poison that was used is Two Step (Aldicarb)

He says they notified the SPCA in Grassy Park to assist with the investigation. SPCA Inspector Lwazi Ntungele went out to the area to interview people and gather statements.

“What I saw this morning will stay with me for a long time. Dogs lying dead in their own vomit, children asking me if their dogs would wake up, and men who admitted that they cried for the first time in years. I feel a heavy responsibility to these dogs and to their families to seek justice for them”.

Ntungele says all the homes affected were neighbouring properties in Thukumbela Street.

Early indications suggest that raw meat, rolled into balls and laced with an as-yet unidentified substance, was thrown into the yards.

He says samples of the suspected poison, vomit and animal remains have been sent to a laboratory for urgent analysis.

At this stage, no suspects have been identified.

The SPCA says the attack likely took place during the night or early hours of the morning. All the targeted homes were fully enclosed, raising fears that the incident was deliberate and planned.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is appealing to anyone with information to come forward. Reports can be made anonymously by calling 021 700 4158/9.

Meanwhile, Girodo says they urgently need financial assistance from the public, as this mass poisoning event has depleted their resources.

“It’s all the drips, it’s all the medication needed to try and save these dogs’ lives. And as it is, financially, we are drowning. We are barely keeping our head above water and we are appealing to the public to please help with donations, food donations for the dogs. We are doing a lot with very little resources.”

He says the matter has been reported to police, but at the time of publishing, SAPS had no further information on the incident.

To contact Animal Welfare Helderberg, call 021 856 0597.