Seaford fox poisoning – reward offered
A group of animal charities including Seaford Dog Rescue, Jessie's Trust of Alfriston, International Animal Rescue of Uckfield, East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) and The Fox Project of Pembury have collectively offered a reward of £2,700 for evidence leading to the conviction of anyone illegally poisoning foxes in the local area.
The reward was offered after the East Sussex WRAS were contacted by a garden centre in Seaford who informed them that a member of the public attempted to purchase rat poison with intention of using it to poison a fox via laced dog food after a previous attempt with mouse poison failed. The staff of the garden centre refused to serve them, and Sussex Police have also been informed of the incident. Anyone with information regarding the poisoning of animals in the area is urged to come forward.
Commenting, Klare Kennett of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) noted that "It's highly irresponsible and illegal to lace dog food with poison. It can be picked up by other species of domestic dogs, cats and other wildlife...It's always better to deter them than kill a fox. They are territorial so another fox will just come in and take over their territory."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
