Poison Suspected in 5 Dogs’ Deaths on One Sylmar Block

City animal officials are investigating the deaths of five dogs within three days, possibly from poison, in a one-block neighborhood in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

“There’s been speculation that they were all poisoned, but we haven’t determined if that is true,” Los Angeles Animal Services spokesman Peter Persic said Friday.

Three of the dogs were found Tuesday, including a chow mix named “Fluffy,” a fourth on Thursday and another Friday. All were in the 14000 block of Arlee Place.

Three of the dogs were strays that had been running in the neighborhood for about six months, said Connie Owens, a resident. They included a Labrador mix, Doberman-mix puppy and a Staffordshire terrier-mix. Another Staffordshire terrier died in its owner’s driveway Friday, Persic said.

Owens, who said she was trying to befriend one of the strays, said she fears “an animal hater” is deliberately poisoning dogs. She argues that they could not have accidentally gotten into garden poisons, such as ground squirrel bait, because “nothing else has been hurt. We would have dead squirrels, dead birds, dead cats. But it’s just dogs.”

But animal officials said that other animals may behave differently when they are ill. “Just because we are not finding them does not mean that they are not affected,” said Dr. Dena Mangiamele, the city’s chief veterinarian. Cats, for instance, might hide and not be found, she said.

Animal officials said they are awaiting laboratory results before reaching a conclusion. Liver, spleen and blood samples are being examined, as well as stomach contents, Mangiamele said. Results are expected Monday.

She said the dogs exhibited different apparent symptoms, some with internal bleeding and others not. “We can’t jump to conclusions because we don’t want to panic people,” Mangiamele said.

Persic and Mangiamele warned residents to contain their pets within their yards. “It’s not just the law, but the safe thing to do,” Mangiamele said.