A woman was in floods of tears after two dogs were poisoned during their morning walk.
Paula Crosse, 52, from Childwall, was looking after her mum's two 11-month-old cockapoo puppies, Winnie and Sadie, as she recovered from surgery. She took the dogs out for a short walk to Childwall Park just after 11am on Monday, January 22.
Once they returned home, Winnie started convulsing and fell unconscious. Paula drove the dog to the vets where she started having seizures and was put into a coma.
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She told The ECHO: "I was only taking them on a short walk because they're recovering from being spayed and can only walk for about 15 minutes at a time. As I was walking I could have gone on a route to the left, or the right, and I took them right because there was a boxer dog that they get on with that way.
"As we were walking I remember seeing what looked like snow that hadn't melted, it was a white powder that was thicker than talc coming out of a box. The dogs didn't go near it but they were sniffing everything as they were walking and it was quite windy.
"When I got home Winnie started convulsing so I took her straight to the vets where I saw my neighbour nearby in the consultation room saying goodbye to his dog Teddy, who had just been euthanised after a walk around the park."
When Paula got to the vets she was asked if Winnie had eaten anything in the garden, and she told the vets about the box in the park with white powder. The vets then said they had already had one dog die following a walk in the same park.
She said: "My heart sank because I had only brought Winnie with me, I rushed back home to Sadie, who had been on the same walk and she was spaced and unable to stand properly.
"Both dogs were admitted and at 2pm the vet contacted us to say they need to be transferred to the PDSA in Huyton and need our consent to move them. Winnie was put into a coma until test results came back.
"Just after 4pm the vet contacted me to advise they knew the substance was Fentanyl mixed with another drug and this meant they could start the reversal medicine for both Winnie and Sadie.
"They told us that if anything happened they would give us a call so we could say our goodbyes but no news would be good news."
The PSDA called Paula's mum, Margaret Carroll, 76, at 6am on Tuesday, January 23, to say Winnie was out of the coma and Sadie would be able to come home.
Paula said: "Overnight we were all praying that they would be okay. It was my mum's birthday and she was saying it would be the best birthday present to hear the dogs were okay. It's an absolute miracle.
"The dogs are both still suffering the effects with having low heart rates but are being checked by the vets everyday. They have started eating and drinking again and Winnie was even wagging her tail when she went to the vets yesterday.
"Whoever did this is so cruel and I am sorry for the loss of my neighbour's dog and the other dog who could not be saved. I would like to thank the tireless hardworking staff at White Cross and PDSA who went over and above to help save our dogs lives and to Merseyside Police and Fire Service for their fast response."
Merseyside Police cordoned off the park on Childwall Valley Road, Belle Vale after being contacted by White Cross Vets. The force has now confirmed enquiries at Childwall Valley Road have been concluded and the police scene has been stood down.
A spokesperson said: "The substance has now been safely removed by specialists and will be forensically tested. Enquiries into how the substance came to be in the area remain ongoing."
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