Dog's death 'creepy'

DEREK FLYNN/Marlborough Express

SAD LOSS: Arthur Devine with his pomeranian dogs Bella, left, and Simba. Mr Devine suspects his oldest dog Fergie, inset, which died earlier this week, was poisoned by somebody who dislikes his dogs barking.

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A Marlborough hairdresser is tossing up whether to sell his home after one of his beloved dogs died in suspicious circumstances.

One of Arthur Devine's three pomeranian dogs was found dead under a bush in his Kinloch Cres back yard last week while he was away on business in Australia.

The 26-year-old had left the dogs in the care of his niece and nephew, who tended to them in the morning and evening while he was away. On March 1 they discovered the oldest of the three dogs, Fergie, 4, was missing.

Ads were run in the paper and on the radio, but Fergie was later found dead under a bush in Mr Devine's back yard.

Mr Devine suspects foul play after bones, which he does not feed his dogs, were found in the yard.

He thinks they contained poison, but tests to prove his suspicions were not done because of the expense.

It's not the first time there has been trouble with his dogs.

In July last year, Mr Devine complained to police after diesel was poured on his animals and a threatening letter telling him to "get rid of his dogs or there would be serious consequences" was left in his letter box.

Constable Michelle Stagg of Blenheim Police said the complaint was never pursued because there were no leads.

Mr Devine, who moved to the property in November 2008, said animal control had been to his home on several occasions because of complaints about his dogs barking.

As a result he had spent about $900 on electric collars to curb the problem. However, his dogs are now kept inside for fear of another attack.

"We may well move. It's not fair on the other two dogs to be locked inside, but then it's like `is that what the people want?"'

He appealed to the public for sightings of suspicious activity in the area.

Mr Devine's next door neighbour, Alannah Simmons, who owns a foxy-kelpie cross called Missy, said the latest incident was "creepy".

She had received two anonymous "cowardly" letters in the past two years threatening to call animal control if her dog did not stop barking.

She said Mr Devine's dogs annoyed many in the neighbourhood, and in the past she had called animal control, but she was devastated that someone might have resorted to poisoning his pets.

Alabama Road Vet Clinic veterinarian David Sim said small pieces of meat, rather than bones, were more commonly used to poison animals.

Dogs could choke and die after eating bones, but it was "very rare".

Animal Control had received 507 dog complaints since July 2009, said a spokeswoman. Of those, 178 were for barking dogs.

- The Marlborough Express