Dog possibly sickened by rat trap bait at Cal Anderson Park

SEATTLE — A pest management company will inspect baited rat traps Wednesday morning at Seattle's Cal Anderson Park after a dog became sick.

Eve Giselle said the incident happened Monday night.

"I was walking my blue heeler, Data, in Cal Anderson on Monday night. She was rooting around in the dirt next to me on her 4-foot leash. I saw her sniffing some teal plastic-looking garbage beside the path near the playground, and in a flash she wolfed it down. By the time I got my fingers in her mouth it was down her throat," said Giselle.

The following day, Data appeared to have an upset stomach.

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"I was at work worrying about her when I happened to Google image search “rat poison." When I saw a teal substance that looked exactly like what she had eaten, I knew I had to call my vet," said Giselle.

On the way to the veterinarian's office, Giselle stopped by the park and collected a sample of the substance, which was still there in the dirt beside the path.

Giselle showed the substance to the dog's veterinarian, who said it was rat poison. The dog was treated and is recovering.

Seattle Parks said it had a pest control contractor install 60 rat poison traps at the park in February. They have two golf-ball sized holes to let the rats in, and behind the holes is a maze to get to the rat poison.

The pest control company said it would be difficult for a dog to get access to the locked box, but a large dog, such as a great Dane, could possibly chew one up.

Otherwise, unless there was human error, the poison would not be accessible.

The bait used in the traps is the same color as the bait the dog's owner found at the park and photographed.

The pest management company is checking each trap Wednesday to ensure they are locked and in tact.

Cox Media Group