Straight Pin-Laced Chopped Meat Eaten By Dog in Central Park. Sicko Hunted

Central Park PAWS and the New York Council of Dog Owner Groups have alerted dog owners that on the morning of August 9th the owner of a Labrador Retreiver walking in Central Park saw her dog eating from a brown paper bag that has been tied with ribbons and left in the lawn. It proved to contain chopped meat a beef tongue stuck fill of straight pins and hat pins. Though severely injured by more than 30 ingested pins, thanks to the efforts of a caring veterinarian, the dog, Milo, will survive. (Both organization's statements are below.)

UPDATE: The Daily News reports this morning that the dog, Milo, an 80-pound, six year-old Black Lab, survived and is recovering at home thanks to a great vet, Dr. Andrew Kaplan at City Veterinary Care on W. 72nd St.. (named Best Vet in New York 2006 by in NY Magazine.)

In a statement issued tonight, the Parks Department's Parkwide Supevisor, Melanie Alfonso, instructs dog owners:

"If something like this should happen to your pet, [or if you see someone behaving suspiciously] please call 311 and ask to be connected with Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP). You should also notify me at 212 628 1036 x53. Also note that we have notified park staff of the incident and asked them to take special care when checking their areas.

Bob Marino, president of NYC Dog, which represents over 20,000 New York City dog owners from 35 dog owner associations, said in a statement:

"Sadly, the booby-trapped meat was meant to lure dogs so that they might be injured or killed. This individual is sick, malevolent, and dangerous to both dogs and citizens alike."

Please, if you own a dog, don't take your eyes off it, on or off-leash. A dog can get itself in trouble in an instant.

Central Park PAWS is an organization of dog owners who use Central Park. Its steering committee--an advisory group to the Central Park Conservancy--is made up of dog owners representing varied areas of the Park as well as representatives from the Central Park Conservancy and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Central Park Paws is an affiliate member of the New York Council of Dog Owner Groups (NYCdog.org).

Statements from NYC Dogs and Central Park Paws:

CENTRAL PARK PAWS NOTICE:

Please be advised that yesterday morning (Wednesday, August 09) a park patron was walking with her Labrador retriever, Milo, in Central Park at 7:45am in the vicinity of West 62-West 63 Streets. Milo was off leash (courtesy hours are from 9:00pm-9:00am in the Park) and wandered into a lawn, when his owner noticed that he was eating something out of a brown paper package tied with ribbons.

The owner quickly walked over to dispose of the package when she noticed that its contents were chopped meat stuck with straight pins. Milo was rushed to the vet who discovered that he ingested approximately 30 straight pins. Thankfully, the vet was able to get Milo the help he needed quickly and Milo is alive and well.

Please note that no other reports of similar instances were filed and this is the first time that something like this has happened in Central Park. On behalf of Central Park PAWS and the Central Park Conservancy, I am sending out this e-mail exhorting all dog owners and walkers as a reminder to be alert and aware of the whereabouts of their pets, especially during off-leash courtesy hours when dogs tend to wander.

If something like this should happen to your pet, please call 311 and ask to be connected with Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP). You should also notify me at 212 628 1036 x53. Also note that we have notified park staff of the incident and asked them to take special care when checking their areas.

Melanie Alfonso
Parkwide Supevisor
tel. 212.628.1036 x53
malfonso@centralparknyc.org

http://www.centralparknyc.org

Statement from NYC Dog
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Bob Marino
President
New York Council of Dog Owner Groups
Info@NYCdog.org / www.NYCdog.org

212.873.0006

August 10, 2006

Central Park Paws alerted dog owners that on the morning of August 9th, a dog being walked in Central Park found a brown paper bag tied with ribbons and promptly torn it open to gain access to what proved to be chopped meat laced with straight pins.

Though severely injured by more than 30 ingested pins, thanks to the efforts of a caring Veterinarian, the dog will survive.

Unfortunately, sick people like the individual who planted the chopped meat exist everywhere. Each year we are alarmed by reports of Halloween candy laced with similar items. And recently, we have all read of a psychopath who poisoned a church picnic to inflict pain or death on his fellow church members. Fortunately these people are a small minority of society and most people do not act in such anti-social ways.

This incident may or may not be connected with recent news reports concerning a lawsuit initiated by a Queens civic association intended to force abolition of the 9pm-9am off-leash privileges dog owners and their dogs presently enjoy in many city parks. NYCdog.org has no way of knowing if this unfortunate incident is related to the lawsuit and until the police arrest this individual NYCdog.org will not accuse anyone or any group.

Sadly, the booby-trapped meat was meant to lure dogs so that they might be injured or killed. This individual is sick, malevolent, and dangerous to both dogs and citizens alike. People like this are no better than terrorists who would destroy our society and as such should be treated no differently when apprehended.

Any claims that may be made by some people that this incident would not have happened had the injured dog been on-leash should be dismissed as political posturing. As any responsible dog owner knows, discarded food on the streets and within parks –whether poisoned or not- is an almost irresistible lure to dogs. Many dogs are able to consume items found on the street within seconds and without missing a stride while on walks.

As responsible citizens, all of us should respect one another, be on the look-out for nuts who would hurt our pets, children, elderly, tourists, and our families. We urge park users to be to be on the alert for any items that might pose a threat and to immediately report any suspicions to the proper authorities. Do not touch anything.

NYCdog reminds all dog owners to constantly monitor their dogs whether on or off-leash. Do not allow dogs to roam through woodlands, underbrush, and flowerbeds. Do not allow your dogs to enter children’s playgrounds, ball fields, or any other designated-use area. Clean-up after your dogs. And, above all, respect all citizens and our parks.

The NEW YORK COUNCIL OF DOG OWNER GROUPS (NYCDOG) is a coalition of 35 dog owner groups throughout New York City representing over 25,000 dog owners. NYCDOG was founded to unite dog owners and dog owner groups throughout New York. We are dedicated to improving our communities by promoting the establishment and maintenance of humane off leash recreation opportunities, responsible dog ownership and respectful park stewardship.

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