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LEHI — Police say a Lehi resident confessed to poisoning a next- door neighbor’s dog last week.
On July 1, two dogs in a neighborhood behind Thanksgiving Point began suffering seizures. Both were taken to a veterinarian, who told the dog owners they may have been fed Strychnine — a poison used to killed rodents. One dog, Rowen, a Weimaraner-Chocolate Lab mix died as a result.
Lucy, a blue Heeler-Lab mix is recovering. Lehi police Sgt. Jeff Swenson said they are awaiting lab results to determine possible health problems with the dog.
Within a couple days of the alleged poisonings, a 1-year-old Miniature Schnauzer named Hermiaty began exhibiting similar symptoms. High levels of toxins were found in her blood.
After the incident, police canvassed the neighborhood, going door-to- door asking neighbors about it. Police say a neighbor confessed Sunday to putting poison in tuna fish for the purpose of poisoning Rowen.
Swenson identified him as Bart Adams, 47. His home is between that of Rowen and Lucy's owners. Because of his cooperation, he will not be arrested, but police said it is likely he will be charged with animal cruelty, a class A misdemeanor.
Adams' wife Debbie said she never heard her husband complain about dogs in the neighborhood. And at the time of the incident, she told her husband she was scared for her own children with a "dog killer" on the loose.
Rowen's owner, Melanie Green, said Adams never mentioned having problems with Rowen, but he was never friendly towards the dog either.
"My dog would approach him and bark at him, and he (Adams) would take a very defensive stance and yell at him," Green said.
Green added that Rowen never attacked Adams, and she's also filed a no-contact order against Adams.
"There are no hard feelings. I'm not angry, I'm just sad about the whole situation and heartbroken for his family," Green said.
Police have not released information about Hermiaty’s alleged poisoning.
