Dogs Poisoned in Deadly California Dispute; Neighbors Claim Pets Have Been Targeted There Before
Residents of Carmichael, Calif., outside Sacramento, say a dog killer is living in their midst and has left at least one dog dead and others hospitalized, in attacks with a long history, according to CBS affiliate KOVR.
"Duke fell down and just couldn't move, started shaking all over the place and knocking down tables," Gage Lewis told KOVR. Duke is slowly recovering, but another of Lewis' dogs died after being poisoned by an unknown substance.
And Gage Lewis and his neighbors say they know who is behind the terrible acts. It's an open secret they say, but they don't have enough evidence to make a case. For now, CBS isn't revealing the suspect's name.
"His plan of action is to throw the meat over the fence," Marci Volkman told KOVR. "Then he takes off and goes away for the weekend so it looks like he has an alibi."
One of the veterinarians who treated the pets said the animals may have ingested snail bait or rat poison, but the exact substance has not been confirmed.
Another neighbor, Don Kay, who has lived in the neighborhood for over 25 years, said this isn't the first time one of the suspected poisoner's neighbors has lost a pet.
"Prior to the Lewises moving in, the neighbors had a Rottweiler and a Doberman, and that family came home one day and found the Doberman had been hit over the head with a two-by-four," Kay told KOVR.
Kay said that he is partnering with other neighbors to collect evidence against the alleged canine killer.
The accused neighbor was out of town when KOVR attempted to contact him, but his wife denied the allegations against him.