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A map has been created to help pet owners in Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city, track locations where harmful substances have been reported amid growing concern over a series of suspected dog poisonings. City hall says that around a dozen dogs have died so far.
“To help dog owners, we have created an updated map highlighting where poisonings have occurred,” Łukasz Gibała, a city councillor, wrote on Facebook, sharing a link to the map.
In a separate statement, the city said that poisons, often hidden in food, have appeared in various areas of Kraków. They advised owners to seek veterinary assistance immediately if their pets exhibit symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting or loss of appetite.
The city also issued a reminder that, under Polish law, killing animals or abusing them in any other way is a criminal offence punishable by up to three years in prison.
“Cruelty to animals cannot go unaddressed,” Gibała wrote in his Facebook post. “I have already intervened in the cases you have reported and will write to the city authorities to appeal for steps to be taken to combat this.”
The councillor also encouraged residents to print a poster warning about the poisonings and put it up in areas where substances have been found.
The KTOZ Kraków Animal Care Association, which runs Kraków’s main dog shelter, has also identified places where dangerous substances have been found. It noted that this has led to several fatalities.
“We have received a report that in the area of Rusznikarska, Wybickiego, Krowoderskich Zuchów, Batalionu ‘Skała’ AK streets in Kraków, in Krowoderski Park, and in the 303 Squadron Housing Estate someone is poisoning dogs,” KTOZ warned in a social media post.
In a separate post, the organisation encouraged residents to report to the police if they find “anything suspicious, scattered food scraps, grain of an unusual colour”. They also warned that “under no circumstances should you attempt to clean up suspicious food with your bare hands”.
Kraków dog shelter was stunned when all 123 of its dogs kept in outdoor enclosures were temporarily adopted during a winter freeze 3 weeks ago
Now it reports most are likely to remain in those homes permanently, with only 20 so far returned to the shelter https://t.co/Sbr4yKuwwv
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 25, 2024
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Main image credit: Susana MaRo / Pexels
Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.
