A VET has urged vigilance after treating a dog who had become unwell after eating from a bag of rotten meat, amid reports of similar events happening in recent days.

Suzanne Ackerley, based across Border Vets in Longtown and Eden Veterinary Practice in Carlisle, has spoken out after carrying out an emergency procedure on a dog last Sunday.

She has since become more concerned as reports of identical cases have surfaced on social media.

“We don’t want to scare people, but I wanted to make people aware that for some reason this is happening,” Mrs Ackerley said.

The owner of the dog treated by Mrs Ackerley, Frances Richards, explained that she found her Labrador George had eaten from a bag of rotten meat after darting away from her while on a walk.

Phoning her son Henry, he instantly warned her that other similar stories had been circulating on social media.

“I called the emergency vet and took him up there straight away. The vet gave him an injection to make him vomit,” she said.

“I think they got it in time. It hadn’t been in his stomach for very long. We phoned the police, but they said they couldn’t do anything.”

A Cumbria Police spokeswoman said: “We have been contacted by people asking for advice on this matter and we have received at least one call raising concerns that a dog may have eaten decomposed meat.

“However, we can confirm there have been no calls to police to say that a dog has died or fallen ill as a direct result of eating poisoned meat in city parks. There has been no confirmation that poison has been placed anywhere.

“If anyone does have any concerns about their dog having been poisoned then they can call officers on 101.”

Cotehill resident Alan Thomson had an similar experience on Saturday afternoon.

Taking his Labrador, Belle, for a walk through the nearby High Stand woods, Alan was concerned to discover Belle returning to him with a plastic bag in her mouth containing cube of chicken.

“We took her straight to the vets and they made her vomit,” he said. Thankfully, Belle appears not to have suffered any lasting effects.

Mr Thomson reported what had happened to the police, saying the similarity to other cases convinced him this had been a deliberate attempt to make a dog unwell.

“This is 100 per cent deliberate,” he said.

“You wonder what sort of a person would do this. I’m annoyed. We live in Cotehill, and that is where we often walk our dog.

“I’m left sitting here wondering ‘where is it safe to take my dog?’”