Owner’s warning as dogs poisoned by drugs after rave

Two dogs became very unwell and could not stand up after being poisoned by cannabis following a rave, their owners have said.

Human faeces were left behind by some of the 500 people who attended the illegal party at Rowberrow Warren in Somerset on 27 December.

Jen, who did not want to give her surname, took her dogs Margot and Willow on a walk in the Winscombe nature reserve, where it is believed they ate the human waste.

“Their pupils were dilated, they couldn’t walk, they couldn’t stand up,” said the 44-year-old from Wrington.

“It became apparent that there were quite a lot of human faeces in the woods which we assumed to be after the free party that had taken place the day before.”

The pets were taken to an emergency vet, who said the dogs were showing signs of cannabis ingestion.

“They were really unresponsive so they had to keep them in overnight,” she added.

The couple paid £1,600 in vet bill after their dogs needed IV fluids, charcoal and an overnight stay.

Jen’s husband Stuart, 47, said: “Apparently 60% of cannabis remains in faeces and she [the vet] said she had seen other dogs with similar symptoms so that could possibly be it.

“Obviously without a blood test they wouldn’t know for certain, but that was her conclusion.”

According to Avon and Somerset Police, about 500 people gathered for an illegal rave at Rowberrow Warren in the early hours of 27 December.

Police had to close off roads and damage was caused to fences nearby.

Rosemary Reakes, from nearby Tynings Farm, said: “Somebody came up here and drove straight through here because of the fog.

“The mess that they leave behind them and the fact they are interrupting our sleep and we had flashing lights all night because of the police.”

After sharing her concerns on social media, Jen said lots of people replied saying the same thing happened to their dogs in other places.

The couple hope their story will make those who go to illegal raves think twice about how they treat the environment around them.

The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), which gives advice to vets, sees about 130 cases of dogs poisoned by cannabis each year.

Nicola Robinson, vet and head of service, said: “Cannabis is not all absorbed – it doesn’t all go into the blood screen.

“Around 20% or less than 20% in many cases, depending on the form of cannabis, gets absorbed.

“Therefore a lot of it gets passed on into the faeces completely unchanged.

“So when a dog eats human faeces they would end up eating cannabis as it would be when the person ate it.”

In the cases reported to the VPIS, dogs are commonly exposed following ingestion, or accidental inhalation of smoke.

Dogs who ingest a small dose of plant material may recover within 24 hours, but those ingesting larger doses may show clinical signs for several days, according to the VPIS.

Central nervous system depression, a lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements [often pronounced in the hind limbs], and a slow heart rate are the most common signs in animals exposed to cannabis.

Behavioural changes include aggression, agitation, barking and hallucinations.