Date: 16/11/02 10:25
Two weeks ago I had fourteen dogs that became unexpectedly ill. Within 48 hours I had to bury nine of them.
Five have survived after intensive treatment.
I contacted the Health Department in Loulé, Algarve. for the official there to come to my house to test the water from the cisternas, from which we draw water, in case it had been contaminated by tree that grow nearby. The reason for this was that the house dogs that were drinking distilled water did not become ill or show any symptems of illness.
The official attended with two gentlemen from the department of Ecology after an inspection they concluded that the cisterna was not the cause. The ecologist asked when the area around my house had become part of the lincenced hunting area. I told them it was only a fortnight previous that posts were erected next to my property. Having described the symptoms of vomiting and bleeding it was their conclusion that the puppies had been poisoned, especially as the breed was similar to the Portuguese hunting dog.
Furthermore he was of the opinion that now greater areas of land were being handed over to the hunting fraternity that the incidence would increase. Apparently it requires one hectare of land to one gun, therefore the hunting licence is expensive, he concluded that dogs would be poisoned to prevent "game" from being caught by preditory animals.
It is essential that animals that died unexpectedly should be taken for an autopsy; and here was sounded a note of caution, it was imperative that the autopsy be carried out by a veterinarian that had no vested interest in hunting. An alternative was put forward that the dead animal should be taken to the University of Loulé.
All my animals were in kennels within my property which is surrounded by high walls with all access to it barred by a locked gate. At no time did these animals leave the property, and the house dogs usually go out on leash.
Unfortunately the dead dogs had to be buried quickly and the weather at the time of their deaths was foul.
I would be pleased if you could make contact with me, as it seems that things might get worse before it gets better.
Treatment given to the surviving dogs was massive doses of Glucose water brewers yeast, (Vitamin B complex) , and cod liver oil with multi-vitamins and trace elements.
Yours Sincerely
(Name withheld by request)
Data: 16/11/02 10:25
Há duas semanas os meu catorze cães adoeceram. No dois dias seguintes tive de enterrrar nove deles. Os outros cinco sobreviveram graças a tratamento intenso.
Interpelei o Serviço de Saúde de Loulé, Algarve. Veio a minha casa um funcionário para examinar a água das cisternas, das quais tiramos água, para o caso que tivesse sido contaminada pelas árvores próximas. Os cães que bebiam água distilada não adoeceram.
O dito funcionário estava acompanhado por outros dois do Serviço de Ecologia. Após a inspecção, concluiram que a culpa não era da cisterna. O ecologista perguntou-me se a zona era de caça. Disse-lhe que tinham posto avisos perto da minha casa duas semanas antes. Da minha descrição dos vómitos e sangramentos dos cães, eles concluiram que estess tinham sido envenenados, provavelmente porque semelhantes a cães de caça locais. Além disso, ele opinou que quanto mais terrenos fossem facultados aos caçadores, tanto mais casos de envenenamento iria haver.
Sendo, ao que parece, preciso um hectare para cada arma de caça, a licença de caça é custosa. Ele concluiu que mais cães seriam envenenados para evitar que as presas fossem apanhadas por predadores. Os animais que morrem subitamente devem ser submetidos a autópsia! Para mais, avisou ele, efectuada por veterinário não afecto à caça. Doutra maneira, levá-los à Universidade de Loulé.
Os meus cães estavam fechados em canis dentro da minha propriedade, cercada por muros altos com acesso único por um portão trancado. Nunca saíam dela, andavam à trela. Infelizmente, tiveram de ser logo enterrados, dado o mau tempo.
Gostaria que entrassem em contacto comigo, já que a situação poderia piorar antes de melhorar.
O tratamento consistiu em doses maciças de água com glucose, levedura de cerveja complexo B e óleo de fígado de bacalhau com vitaminas e oligo-elementosSinceramente,
(nome conhecido pela Action Against Poisoning)