North East dog walkers warned over painkillers in park

The RSPCA has issued an urgent warning to dog owners in the North East after painkillers were found in a Newcastle park.

The charity’s Newcastle and North Northumberland Branch was alerted after dozens of naproxen tablets were found on the pavements and grassy areas of Chapel Park. The woman who contacted the RSPCA said the incidents have been occurring on “almost a daily basis” over the past three weeks.

RSPCA Chief Inspector, Lyndsey Avery, said: “We would advise owners to keep their dogs on leads and keep an eye on them at all times, just so as they don’t root around and find these pills in this area.

“This has been happening on a regular basis and we need to make people aware. Naproxen is a strong painkiller and if ingested could be lethal to dogs.

“We also are appealing to anyone who has seen anyone who may have been acting suspiciously in the area or who knows anything to get in touch.”