Beamish Museum find 'no evidence' that dog was poisoned

Beamish Museum, County Durham says they have found "no evidence" to support that a dog was poisoned at its venue following an investigation into the incident <i>(Image: NORTHERN ECHO/PA MEDIA)</i>
Beamish Museum, County Durham says they have found "no evidence" to support that a dog was poisoned at its venue following an investigation into the incident (Image: NORTHERN ECHO/PA MEDIA)
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A County Durham museum says they have found "no evidence" to support that a dog was poisoned at its venue following an investigation into the incident.

The incident is believed to have happened last month at Beamish Museum, with the dog's owner saying that the pet became unwell after drinking from a water bowl.

The Museum initially confirmed they were aware of the reported incident involving a dog, but now say they have found no evidence to suggest the dog was poisoned on the premises.

In a statement, released on Tuesday (July 15), Beamish Museum said that its thoughts remain with the dog who died after the incident and will continue to monitor its policies on dog drinking bowls.

A spokesperson for the tourist attraction said: "While our investigations have found no evidence to support that the poisoning happened here at Beamish, we nonetheless continually work to make the museum as safe as possible for all visitors, including dogs, and will take this sad occurrence into consideration during our regular reviews of our dogs policy, balancing all risks, including factors such as the risk of heatstroke in dogs.

Beamish MuseumBeamish Museum (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) "Our thoughts remain with Bo's family at this sad time."

Following the incident at Beamish Museum, a petition appeared on Change.org from the owners of the dog involved. 

Set up on July 8, the petition, entitled 'Remove Public Drinking Bowls for Dogs' from Aimee Ramage, has already gained more than 120 signatures.

The owner says that five-year-old Border Collie Bo drank from a public water bowl and became unwell.

The petition says that Bo suffered acute kidney failure and had to be put down.

"Our family is shattered, and the heartache of losing her in such a preventable manner is overwhelming," reads the petition.

The online petition, which will be sent to Durham County Council, the RSPCA, and Beamish Museum, says that the dog owner wants to spread awareness of the risk.

The petition adds: "We need to rethink the presence of public drinking bowls and consider the potential danger they pose.

An image of a dogAn image of a dog (Image: PA MEDIA) "Removing them could prevent similar tragedies from happening to other families.

"Dog owners should be encouraged to bring their own water to ensure their pets' safety, which is a small change for the peace of mind it offers.

"Together, we can push local councils and pet-friendly establishments to take notice and make necessary changes that prioritise the safety of our beloved pets over convenience."

Durham Police say that they haven't received any reports from members of the public about this incident.

Following the incident, the RSPCA issued advice for dog owners in the region, including telling them to show caution when it came to communal dog drinking bowls.

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A spokesperson said: “If you suspect your pet may have been poisoned, you should seek veterinary treatment immediately and, if possible, take a sample of what your animal has eaten/drunk, or the container.

“Signs of poisoning can be seen anything from 30 minutes after an animal has ingested the chemical, though it can be two or three days before signs of kidney failure are seen.

"Symptoms include vomiting, seeming depressed or sleepy, appearing drunk and uncoordinated, seizures, and difficulty breathing.

“People should also take extra care when using any potentially dangerous substances, such as antifreeze or slug pellets, to ensure that animals are not affected and that substances are stored appropriately and properly disposed of.”

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