Probe launched after at least 10 dogs found poisoned

A police investigation has been launched after at least 10 dogs were found dead at Galewela, Aluthwewa area from suspected poisoning. 

Areas residents had complained to the police emergency hotline number after finding bodies of dead dogs at different locations in the area this morning (24). Complaints have also been lodged with the Galewela police. 

Area residents accuse owners of a farm in the area of poisoning the dogs. They say dogs are attracted to the farm at night as farm workers go about slaughtering chickens, pigs and goats that are reared at the farm for meat. 

They claim that several dogs had been beaten to death by owners of the farm before and alleged that the farm owners had also attempted to assault those who complained to police over these acts of animal cruelty. 

Those who had lost their dogs were distraught over the incident and called on authorities to take legal action over the incident to prevent it from happening again. 

An officer of the Galewela police stated that a team of officers was dispatched to the area following calls received over the emergency hotline. Owners of dogs who had been killed have been instructed to come to the police station tomorrow for an inquiry. 

Text and Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa