Residents used rat poison to deter dogs from peeing on their property, U.S. AG suit says

A file image of a woman walking her dogs. (Pexels/Photo by Aysun Kahraman Öktem)

MINNESOTA (WCCO) -- The Minnesota attorney general said he is suing two Mankato residents after they allegedly put rat poison outside their home in an effort to stop dogs from urinating on their lawn.

According to the lawsuit, at least one dog ingested the rat poison blocks while on a walk and the owner had to induce vomiting.

Amber Massaglia, whose Husky Tikka ingested the poison said her dog had to undergo lab testing and will be on vitamins twice a day for the next 30 days. The ordeal cost her over US$1,000, she said.

“He didn’t just poison my dog, he poisoned this neighbourhood a little bit because I lived here as a kid, it’s always been a magical place and now I don’t know if I can walk in my neighbourhood,” said Massaglia

Pictures included in the lawsuit show bait blocks next to the sidewalk and a large sign stating “no dog piss” on a fence outside the home. Another sign underneath a camera indicated that anyone walking by was being livestreamed.

It points to a website that people can access to “see yourself and your dog invading private property,” but it appears that someone is using the domain to advocate against the homeowner.

The lawsuit states that a U.S. Department of Agriculture investigator tried to speak to the residents, but they refused to talk to him. The inspector however noticed blocks of rodenticide on the inside of the fence in the front yard.

The two residents are charged with failing to use rat poison in a manner consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The U.S. attorney general’s office says the EPA prohibits the use of bait blocks outside and above ground, unless they’re placed in a container that can’t be opened by pets or children.

The lawsuit also asks the court to impose a civil penalty of $7,500 for each day of the alleged violation.

The court granted a temporary restraining order on Thursday requiring the residents to remove the rat poison and ordering them to allow a U.S. Department of Agriculture investigator to inspect the property.

Stephanie Scharbach, who lives across the street and owns a dog, said the couple “don’t like dogs, so I’m worried they’re now going to throw rat poison over here.”

A neighbour who didn’t want to go on camera told WCCO the couple who lives in the home are “nice enough” and was surprised they’d do something like this.

According to the online pet supply store Chewy, if you suspect your dog ingested poison, “call a pet poison hotline or go to an emergency vet rather than ‘waiting to see.’”

By WCCO Staff, Frankie McLister