Poisoner killing pets for 16 years, claim family

A FAMILY whose two sheepdogs had to be put down after being poisoned with weedkiller say the culprit has been killing pets in the area for the last 16 years.

Schoolteacher Noel Buckley, from Marfield in Clonmel, has written an open letter to the alleged culprit along with his wife Gaye and children Stephen, 14, Gearoid, 12, and 10-year-old Maire.

Their dogs, Susie and Lynn, died after being fed Gramaxone, a substance which causes lung problems, kidney failure and severe breathing difficulties.

The Buckleys immediately brought them to a vet, but while they recovered initially both had to be put down.

In their letter they have pleaded with the culprit to seek medical help.

The Buckleys say: “It is a pity you couldn’t have been there to witness not only the suffering you brought to our two family pets but to the entire family as we said farewell to two dogs we loved so much.”

They said that in the seven years they had the dogs they never had one complaint about their behaviour. “It is very hard then for us to understand why anyone would want to poison them.”

The Buckleys said that after the vet had put them down they brought the dogs home, their bodies still warm, and buried them in their garden with the help of some neighbours.

“There can’t be many families with pets left in Marlfield that you have not visited and left the pets to suffer a cruel death. Sixteen years is a long time to be poisoning pets and you must be professional given that you have never been caught.

“You have created a culture of fear among pet lovers in the Marlfield area as people are afraid if they speak out you will be back to do more of the same,” the letter read.

Five neighbours of the Buckleys have also lost pets that were poisoned. Gardaí in Clonmel are investigating the latest incident and urged the public to assist them.

“Words cannot express the sense of revulsion there is at the poisoning of the Buckley family’s dogs,” a spokesman said.

However, the Buckleys now have two more pets after a woman brought two sheep dog pups to the veterinary clinic in Clonmel. The pups were to be put down but instead they are tucked up at the Buckley home.

Named Snoopy and Del Boy, Mr Buckley said it was a happy postscript to a sad week for the family.