TWO dogs are in a critical condition after the latest suspected poisoning near Cherry Orchard Country Park, Rochford.

Roy Knott, 71, of Whitehouse Meadows, Eastwood, was walking his two nine-year-old Labradors just off Cherry Orchard Way at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

After finishing the walk he put the dogs in his car and took them home, but by 3.30pm they had collapsed and Mr Knott rushed them to the MediVet 24 Hour Hospital in Eastwoodbury Lane, Eastwood.

They spent Tuesday night on drips at the vets and are still in a critical condition after eating what the suspected to be poisoned meat.

Mr Knott said: “They are my boys. I’m so upset, I just don’t know why someone would do such a thing.

“The vet phoned yesterday morning saying they are just holding their own and had not died.

“The poison has affected their kidneys and livers and possibly their brains too, so it is powerful stuff.

“They are on drips and lots of medication to try and sort them out but I’m just waiting by the phone for a call from the vet to see how they’re doing.

“I had another dog poisoned in St Laurence park a couple of years ago as well.

“There are so many dog walkers out there people should be aware of this as I don’t want it to happen to anyone else.”

Gareth Richardson, senior partner at MediVet, said Oliver, a chocolate Labrador, and Toby, a yellow Labrador, were making progress throughout yesterday, and that the circumstances around the illness were suspicious.

He said: “They both presented with signs consistent with poisoning.

“They both vomited up bits of chicken and meat, we are waiting on toxin tests but it does look suspicious.

“They are both still ill but are doing ok and we are hopeful they are going to be ok, which is good news.

“It just beggars belief that someone might want to poison people’s beloved dogs.”

NOT A ONE-OFF

THE poisoning is not a one-off occurrence in the area and the same vets confirmed they had treated several poisoning cases from the Rochford area in April last year.

Two other dogs also died early in 2015 after picking up poison in Hadleigh Park and a field in Leigh, and the vets warned owners of the dangers posed by poisoning.

The confirmed cases were mostly identified to be in the rural Rochford District, in Hockley Woods, Ashingdon Park, Cherry orchard Park, Spencers Park in Hockley, and areas of Rayleigh.

Roy Knott’s dogs, Oliver and Toby, had been off their lead when Mr Knott was walking them and MediVet senior partner, Gareth Richardson, warned dog owners to be vigilant.

He said: “Last year we confirmed cases of malicious poisoning which turned out to be a massive dose of ibuprofen-laced meat.

“We would keep giving the standard advice to be vigilant, keeps your dogs in site and do not let them chew on anything that you don’t know what it is.”