Schiedam investigates soil after five dogs die
Part of De Plantage park is being examined, while the cause of death remains unestablished.
Schiedam council is having soil from part of De Plantage park examined after five dogs died there. Police are considering the possibility that the animals ingested harmful substances during a walk, but have not yet established a cause.
The investigation focuses on a rose bed and a nearby site around an electricity substation. According to public reports, some of the soil from the rose bed is being removed and temporarily stored for examination. The council has closed off the areas concerned and put up warning signs.
Police previously reported that four dogs had died after being walked in De Plantage. That number has now risen to five. At least one other dog has also fallen ill. Police are speaking to owners and witnesses and are arranging pathological and toxicological examinations.
Potentially poisonous mushrooms have been found in the park. The council describes the discovery as a possible explanation, but stresses that a link to the deaths has not yet been proven. Experts have also voiced doubts about the assumption that mushrooms are the cause.
Recent work in the park is also being examined. Manager Irado has said that it found no unusual circumstances or deviations. It has therefore not been established that the new soil or the work played a role.
Police are advising visitors to walk their pets elsewhere for the time being. Anyone who sees anything unusual can take a photograph and report it to the police. The closure will remain in place while the investigation continues.
The available public sources do not yet establish whether this involves natural poisoning, contaminated soil or a criminal offence. The results of the forensic and toxicological examinations have not yet been published.
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Police have confirmed the deaths, the investigation and the advice to avoid the park for the time being. The precise cause and the council's earthworks have not yet been fully independently confirmed.
- confirmed Five dogs died after a walk in De Plantage park. — Confirmed by local reporting; police initially confirmed four deaths. source
- confirmed Police are carrying out pathological and toxicological examinations. — This is stated in the police report. source
- uncertain Poisonous mushrooms are the cause. — The council names mushrooms as a possible explanation; the investigation is still under way. source
- uncertain Some of the soil is being excavated and examined. — Reported by a public secondary source, but not separately confirmed by police or the council. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: The soil is being excavated because poisonous mushrooms killed the dogs.Now: Some of the soil is reportedly being examined; the link to the deaths has not yet been established. (The cause remains uncertain.)
Editor's note
Police have confirmed the investigation and the precautionary measures. The report about excavating and storing soil comes from public secondary reporting; separate confirmation from the council was not found.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „schiedam de plantage”
- de Volkskrant — „schiedam de plantage”
- RTL Nieuws — „schiedam de plantage”