A Gidea Park resident is devastated after her cats were poisoned, leading to one death and another emergency vet visit
Gidea Park: Maureen Harris lives on Balgores Lane. She had to rush her cat, Jasper, to the vet on December 28. He seemed to have ingested poison.
Three weeks later, her ten-month-old kitten, Ham, showed the same symptoms. Sadly, he died on January 21.
Maureen explained that one of her cats got very sick over Christmas. Jasper survived but the vet confirmed he had been poisoned.
On January 20, another cat showed similar signs. They took him to the vet, but he died within hours.
The vet reports from Vets4Pets show Jasper was in severe pain. He had tremors and neurological symptoms. Ham had similar issues, including facial twitching and seizures.
Jasper has recovered and is back to normal, but Maureen is scared to let him outside now.
She suspects poison was intentionally placed for other animals. Two foxes were found dead nearby around the same time.
Maureen said, “It’s a criminal offense. We hope to catch the person responsible. You’re killing our animals. Stop doing this.”
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell plans to ask Parliament how to raise awareness about animal poisoning.
He expressed sadness over the incidents, stating they are serious crimes under UK law. He urged residents to stay vigilant.
Signs of poisoning in pets include vomiting, lethargy, seizures, and difficulty breathing. The RSPCA advises pet owners to act quickly if they suspect poisoning.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said they spoke to Maureen but have no leads yet. Havering Council’s environmental team also noted they lack evidence to investigate further.
