Patricia Kandakai used to let her dog out in her fenced-in yard without too much worry. Now she keeps a close eye on her golden lab retriever.
That's because somebody is apparently leaving bread treats with poison in people's yards in south Minneapolis' Bryant neighborhood.
It was about six weeks ago that Kandakai's beloved Diamond was sniffing around her yard and began licking a piece of bread with a green hue.
Kandakai was able to get the tainted bread out of her dog's mouth before anything happened, but it was a close call.
"Somebody had thrown something over the fence, and my neighbor found some too," Kandakai said. "It's alarming. It was happening in St. Paul last year. Now it's happening here in the Bryant neighborhood."
Minneapolis police say they have had several calls and e-mails from residents on the 4000 to 4600 block of Columbus Avenue S. and the surrounding area reporting that somebody was throwing unknown foods on or near their property. Police issued an advisory on Monday to warn residents.
Kandakai's case is one of two that are the "most concerning," because the substance found on the bread in her yard did test positive for "something that is harmful to animals," said officer Corey Schmidt of the Minneapolis Police Department. Schmidt is not aware of any pets that have died from poisoning, but police want to stop the action before one does. "It worries us as a police department, that this person is doing something to harm animals."
In at least one other case, a piece of bread collected by Animal Control and examined at a University of Minnesota laboratory tested positive for a harmful substance. Police declined to specify what the substance was.
Police are asking residents to call 911 if they see suspicious activity such as somebody dropping items in a fenced area or giving treats to pets that are not theirs.
They also are asking residents with home security systems with cameras capturing outside activity to review footage for suspicious activity.
Residents who find food or a substance left for pets can call Animal Control, which will pick it up and have it tested, police said. The number is 311.
"Now I don't even leave my dog outside," Kandakai said. "It's getting really bad. Why would somebody do this?"
Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768
