Dog-walkers have been warned to watch out for poisoned meat after foxes were found dead in two London parks.
The Metropolitan Police said chicken, believed to have been intentionally poisoned, was left in London’s Holland Park and Brompton Cemetery over several days.
One dog which ate some of the meat became “very unwell”.
Two foxes were found dead in the parks without any signs of obvious injury.
Officers believe the poison was used to deliberately target animals – either dogs or foxes.
Dog owners have now been urged to remain vigilant and prevent their pets scavenging for meat.
Police have also warned the public that dogs should be kept on leads at all times in Brompton Cemetery.
Kris Sikora, a professional dog-walker, told the BBC he had seen similar incidents in the past.
Holland Park – home to the Kyoto Garden – was one of two parks where the poisoned chicken meat was found
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He said: “Before, we’ve had toys that have been left around that have been poisoned.
“The worst one that really shocked me was razor blades being left in tennis balls.”
He added that dogs should be taken to the vets if they eat something unknown, warning pet owners to “stay as vigilant as possible”.
Another dog-walker in London said she was “disgusted” at the news.
A dog walker has said there have been similar incidents in the past in London
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“I can’t even imagine why anyone would do that,” she said.
Another dog walker said the news was “absolutely horrendous” and was unsure if someone had done it for a “spiteful reason”.
She said: “It will stop people coming to the park with their dogs.”
There have been reports of similar incidents in Birmingham parks.
Foxes have been found dead without any obvious injuries after consuming meat believed to be poisoned
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Two dog-walkers warned on social media of several incidents of rat poison being placed down in the Second City’s Victoria Common Park.
One person said on April 2 that a dog had consumed poison in the pitch area of the park and was receiving critical care.
Last month there was a similar incident on the Isle of Wight, with several dogs becoming ill after visiting Parkhurst Forest.
Dog-walkers were warned to keep pets under close supervision and remain cautious while walking through the large woodland.
And in Gloucestershire in 2024, several dogs were admitted to hospital, with one dying, after eating a toxin.