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NEWTON, Miss. (AP) — Insecticide killed at least one dog suspected of being poisoned in Newton County last month, according to a toxicology report.
The report identifies two organophosphate insecticides and permethrin as the reason for the dog's death, according to The Meridian Star (http://bit.ly/1Qr19v7).
The report, issued by the Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, comes after several Oakland community residents were shocked over their pets' sudden deaths in November.
Sherri Munn, whose pet was the dog tested in the report, said at least five dogs died and at least two were taken to veterinarians.
Munn suspects someone was putting the poison in food, hoping to keep the dogs out of their deer patch.
"It's so sad that people would be so heartless to kill innocent dogs like that," she said.
Newton County Sheriff Jackie Knight said proving the dogs were intentionally poisoned will be difficult.
"The bottom line is insecticide poisoning," Knight said. "But I've never heard of anyone poisoning a dog with insecticide."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, organophosphates are the most widely used insecticides. The chemicals are commonly used in agriculture, the home, gardens and veterinary practice.
The National Pesticide Information Center said products containing the synthetic chemical permethrin may be liquids, powders, dusts, aerosol solutions, sprays and treated clothing. According to the center, there are currently more than 1,400 registered products containing permethrin.
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Information from: The Meridian Star, http://www.meridianstar.com
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