Dogs poisoned by drugs on litter-strewn walk path

Müzli was shaking and unable to stand up after becoming ill, her owner said

A pet owner is urging others to avoid a littered path after his dogs suffered suspected drug poisoning hours after their walks.

Chris Stoker-Jones said Müzli and Hershey fell ill hours after being exercised on the path behind between Farringdon and Lakeside Village in Sunderland.

Mr Stoker-Jones said it had been "terrifying" and emergency vets had told him it was likely the dogs had ingested cannabis or methadone.

Sunderland City Council said keeping neighborhoods clean was a "top priority" and urged people to report suspicious activity or littering.

"We are sorry to hear about the pet poisoning and we take concerns about littering extremely seriously," a spokesperson for the Labour-led council said.

"Keeping our neighbourhoods clean and safe is a top priority for us and we remain committed to taking action to address these concerns."

Hershey (right) and Müzli (left) have been recovering after suffering suspected drug poisoning

Mr Stoker-Jones said four-year-old Hershey became ill about two weeks ago.

He said hours after he had walked the Vizsla and German Pointer cross, he was shaking and his head was swaying.

He took him to the vets where blood tests ruled out organ failure and he was told it was likely he had ingested cannabis.

Days later eight-year-old Müzli became unwell an hour after her walk.

She was taken to the vets with the same symptoms of vomiting and being unable to stand.

The Hungarian Vizsla was kept in overnight and the family was told she had possibly ingested a mushroom-based toxin from mouldy food or an opiate such as methadone or fentanyl.

'Torment we went through'

The dogs, who were both adopted from Budapest, in Hungary are now recovering.

"You're thinking about the money that you're gonna have to pay but you're also thinking I don't care how much money I have to pay I need my dogs better," Mr Stoker-Jones said.

"I wouldn't wish that on anybody, the sort of torment we went through."

Mr Stoker-Jones urged dog owners to be careful if they walk their pets on the path

Mr Stoker-Jones said something needed to be done about the litter and called for cameras to be installed near the path to catch the perpetrators.

He said he had used the route for 20 years but would find a different one to walk his pets.

The 48-year-old also urged dog owners to be careful although he said the path was "cleaner" when he visited on Sunday.

"Be careful if your dogs are looking to eat things off the ground especially down that path.

"I would just avoid that area because it's very dirty and dangerous," he said.

Hershey and Müzli have been with the family since they were puppies