Possibly poisoned sausages found in Belmont Heights yard

Belmont Heights resident Alana Weinberg had just returned from the dog park with her Jack Russell-Labrador mix "Theo" on Wednesday afternoon when she spotted sausages in her backyard that appeared to be filled with green pellets.

She'd seen a smaller one like it once before months ago, but she had tossed it, not thinking much of it. This time, before disposing of the two much bigger sausages, she posted pictures on her Neighbors App by Ring to see if anyone might have answers.

She discovered that the rice-like substance was likely Cykill, a meal bait rat and mouse poison that can be purchased almost anywhere. Since last week, Weinberg has been on edge, working to alert the city and her neighborhood.

"I put up signs all around the neighborhood," Weinberg said. "I just want other people to know. I don't want any dog to ever be harmed. It's just horrible."

After consulting her veterinarian and monitoring her dog to ensure he was not displaying any symptoms of being poisoned, she called the Long Beach Police Department. Weinberg said the department did not take a report but an officer did tell her that police would begin patroling the area more.

"I couldn't get them to do more than that," she said.

"We are not aware of any incidents, however we encourage residents to reach out to Animal Control," LBPD Public Information Officer Alyssa Baeza said in an email on Tuesday, July 2.

To her knowledge, no one else in her neighborhood has found anything similar, but her neighbors are now on high alert and have all agreed to frequently monitor their security camera footage.

"I don't know when I'm going to feel comfortable leaving my dog out in the yard again," Weinberg said. "He's kind of just locked inside now. When I'm not home, I close the dog door."

Here are the signs a dog may have ingested poison, according to the American Kennel Club:

• Diarrhea or blood in the stool.
• Vomiting or loss of appetite.
• Seizures or tremors.
• Behavioral changes like hyperactivity, lethargy or unsteady when standing or walking.
• Bruising or bleeding in areas of little or no hair, such as the gums, inside the ear flaps, and inside the groins; nose bleeds or bloody urine.
• Finding of unusual material in a dog’s stool, such as peculiar green or corn-like substances which might be rodenticide ingestion.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from the Long Beach Police Department.