August 23, 1999
Dogs are dying in record numbers in a Springville neighborhood.
And veterinarians say the cause of the deaths is the same--poisoning.
Central Utah Correspondent Amy Westerby has the story.
The seventh dog just died just today, and the veterinarians say his stomach was full of this stuff.
It's gopher bait and you can buy it right off the shelf at farming stores.
The dog run is empty, but Jandzya and Azekah are still full of life in Jeanne McNeil's mind.
Their memory is all she has.
Jeanne McNeil/Lost Two Dogs: IT'S HARD TO COME BACK HERE BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE TWO OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GONE.
The Alaskan Malamutes dug their way out the night of July 24th...possibly upset by fireworks.
As they wandered around this Springville neighborhood, they found, what they thought was a treat and ate it up.
Turns out it was gopher bait that contains the poison, strychnine.
The McNeil's dogs died within the hour.
Jessica Wheeler: I'M UPSET. THAT WAS MY DOG, THAT'S LIKE ALL I HAVE, I LIVE ALONE.
Jessica Wheeler's dog, Buddy, died the next day, and four more dogs have died since.
Veterinarians found the same thing in all of their stomachs -- gopher bait.
Some neighbors say this man is to blame.
Larry Parks: I'D SAY ABOUT THAT MUCH PEANUT BUTTER WITH SOME OF THAT GOPHER BAIT MIXED IN WITH IT.
Larry Parks admits to putting gopher bait around his property...he even showed us where he drops it.
But he says it's to kill rodents and racoons, not dogs, all of which were running free.
Larry Parks/Uses Gopher Bait: I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD LEARN TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ANIMALS. IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THEIR ANIMALS OFF MY PROPERTY IF I HAD POISON OUT.
Animal Control officials say both sides are to blame--
The dog owners for not obeying the city's leash law and Parks, for not using gopher bait properly.
It is a federal offense to just leave it out in the open.
Police and parents are concerned about children getting their hands on the gopher bait too.
Police say they were out last night investigating and will continue to investigate until they find out for certain where the dogs are finding the poison.
