Two steps ahead of Two-Step
She made it clear that the product is effective for all poisons, including Two Step (the common pesticide Temik or Aldicarb). The exception is battery acid because dogs burn their throats when they throw up.
While a house robbery or break-in negatively impact the occupants of a property, some dogs are even worse off as criminals often poison them to get them out of the way to enter the property.
However, some passionate dog lovers, who run a dog training school called K9 Classroom in Kelland, came up with a poisoning rescue kit to try and save as many dogs as they can.
Also Read:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/253499/update-one-of-three-poisoned-dogs-recovers/
The owner of K9 Classroom and experienced dog handler, Bronwen Oeschger, explained how the rescue kit came about. “Because dog poisonings have become rife, we developed this poisoning rescue kit. It is non-toxic, does not have an expiry date, is child-friendly and cannot be overdosed. It was originally designed for my clients until a number of animal organisations approached us about it,” said Bronwen, adding that the product, which has been labelled ‘Two Steps Ahead’, has been approved by a number of local veterinarians.
She also explained how the kit is used. “When a dog gets poisoned the owner panics – so everything required to treat the dog, from the mixing bowl, gloves to the water, is stored in one container to speed up the process. The aim of the product is to give a dog a fighting chance by allowing the product to work in its system and encourage it to throw up the content from its stomach as quickly as possible,” Bronwen said.
She made it clear that the product is effective for all poisons, including Two Step (the common pesticide Temik or Aldicarb). The exception is battery acid because dogs burn their throats when they throw up.
She also emphasised that the product does not guarantee to save the dog’s life, “… but if administered quickly enough it can give the pet owner some 10 to 20 minutes longer to get the dog to the vet and receive the right treatment,” Bronwen explained.
She added that the treatment comes in two sizes – small/ medium (suitable for small dogs) and large/ giant dogs (suitable for power breeds).
The school’s many successes in curbing dog poisoning have seen them create partnerships with the Roodepoort Police, some animal shelters and rescue organisations.
Bronwen said Roodepoort Police communication officer, Captain Jaunita-Anne Yorke, approached them about dog poisoning having taken its toll in some of her areas. Bronwen said other police stations have also inquired about the product.
When asked how dog owners can get their hands on it, she said, “The rescue kit can be ordered from us. We try to keep costs as low as possible because this is not about making money but helping people with their dogs. The product is priced from as little as R45 to R55 (depending on the size of the dog) and it provides directions for use.”
Apart from the kit, the dog handler said they also offer free poison-proofing demonstrations to the public, providing guidelines and teaching them to teach their dogs basic obedience to prevent the dog from being poisoned. “We teach the dogs never to eat anything from the floor or ground. Always feed your dog from the same bowl in the same place and at about the same time,” she said in conclusion.
For more information, visit K9 Classroom on Facebook or contact Bronwen on 062 305 0149.
