Six dogs die in agony after walks in grounds of old Edinburgh gasworks sparking poison fears
The pets all suffered internal bleeding before they were put down following separate visits to the site in Granton
SIX dogs perished in agony after they were walked in a park at an old gasworks.
The pets all suffered internal bleeding before they were put down following separate visits to the site in Granton, Edinburgh.
John Young, 52, whose beloved Labrador Holly died, said: “I lost my best pal.”
And now sickened owners fear toxic fumes in the ground poisoned their pets.
The animals fell ill hours after being exercised at the former industrial plant and were put to sleep within weeks of each other.
A dead fox found last week at Forthquarter Park raised suspicions of a lethal leak.
Specialist gear has been installed to release methane under the soil.
As council bosses confirmed an urgent probe, John Young, 52, told how his beloved seven-year-old Labrador Holly fell ill after their last visit to the park for walkies.
He said last night: “I was in the park with her last Sunday and we did our usual walk and went home.
“As I was getting into the house she slumped on the floor. I thought it was strange but helped her up and she slumped again.
“I kept an eye on her that day and she wasn’t getting better so first thing on the Monday I took her to the vet.
“She was kept in overnight and put to sleep the following morning.
“It was awful, the vet told me she had severe internal bleeding so I told him to put her to sleep.
“She had only ever been to the vet once in her life prior to this.”
John, of Granton, said he had heard of another hound dying in similar circumstances after speaking to dog walkers in the park.
June Hoy, 56, also from the area, warned fellow owners to steer clear of the site until the council investigates the run of pooch deaths.
Her German Shepherd Zak also suffered severe internal bleeding after a walk there last month and had to be put to sleep.
June said: “Zak was always walked in the park three or four times a day. He started to become unwell shortly after and I was prescribed some antibiotics for him but they didn’t help.
“Two days later on Hogmanay he was back at the vet and scans showed he was bleeding internally.
I was gutted when I realised he would have to be put to sleep.
“There was nothing the vet could do as the bleeding was so bad.”
June continued: “He was treated just like a member of our family.
“He was a very healthy dog but within a matter of days he’d gone from being fine to dead.
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“I posted on Facebook what had happened and got lots of replies from folk who had similar stories to tell.
“I would tell any dog owners to stay away from here with their dogs as there is something not right. Hopefully the council can get to the bottom of it.”
A spokeswoman for local tenants group Friends of West Pilton confirmed they had been told about a spate of mystery deaths.
She said: “We were first alerted to this issue a few weeks ago. We swiftly became aware of other instances where dogs had died after being in the park.
"We then put a post up on our Facebook page and quickly had six dog owners who told the same story.”
She went on: “We have written to the council and the local politicians to make them aware and they have now taken action.
“Something has gone wrong if these dogs who were fit and healthy beforehand all died such horrible deaths.
“If there is anything suspect in the park then action needs to be taken and people need to be aware of the potential danger they are putting their dog in.”
Seven new exhaust-like pipes have been bored into the ground in one grassy area of the waterfront park this week — similar to those used to release gas at landfill sites.
An Edinburgh Council spokeswoman said last night: “Our environmental services team are currently looking into this matter.”
National Grid, which owns the land, said it had checked ponds in the park for contamination and had not laid rat poison at the site.
A spokeswoman added: “We carry out regular tests on the two areas of water in Forthquarter Park and nothing out of the ordinary has been noted.
“The company has not undertaken any form of vermin control in recent times.”
Last year National Grid tried to sell the park for housebuilding.
The firm said any buyer would have to show they were able to repair the listed former gasholder on the site. The cost of fixing up the landmark was an estimated £11.8million.
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