NEW MADRID, Mo. (KFVS) – Police in New Madrid, Missouri are investigating after multiple pets may have been poisoned.
At least five animals have died in the Davis and Capital streets area of New Madrid in the past few weeks. Neighbors are keeping the animals close while they search for answers.
“That’s a concern to me,” Joyce Grissom said.
She keeps her dog Brownie by her side while she works in the garden outside.
“Make sure they don’t get loose because you don’t want them to get poisoned,” Glisson said.
Brownie is kept on a leash at home, so he can’t go very far. New Madrid Assistant Police Chief Brandon Hanner thinks it’s a good idea.
“Keep them in the garden and don’t let them roam,” Hannah says.
After the first few calls, police didn’t think anything was suspicious. But when more pets died in the same lot, they launched an investigation.
“Maybe someone put out some poison or something like that,” Hanner said.
They believe the poison was targeted at skunks, which are a problem in the area. But Hanner said that wasn’t necessary.
“There’s no need to do that. It’s against wildlife laws to poison a skunk anyway,” Hanner explained. “If you have a problem with such a nuisance animal, you should contact us or the Department of Conservation.”
On the other hand, pets like Brownie receive special attention from the family.
“I don’t feel very good about it,” Grissom said. “I have a dog, so I’m worried that it will become a stray dog.”
Deputy Chief Hanner said he is prepared to file criminal charges if anyone is found to have distributed the poison.
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