Dog Poisoning Reports Investigated

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. — Authorities are investigating disturbing reports that dogs may have been poisoned in and around Yucca Valley’s Community Center, prompting officials to urge pet owners to remain especially vigilant.

The concern began after social media posts claimed chicken bones or other food items coated with antifreeze had been found near the Community Center park and in surrounding neighborhoods. Some posts alleged that dogs became seriously ill or died after ingesting the material, although authorities have not confirmed those claims or found verified evidence that contaminated food was deliberately placed in the area.

A warning sign was placed at the Community Center on Tuesday, July 14, advising residents to watch their pets closely.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Morongo Basin Station confirmed that deputies have received multiple reports concerning the suspected poisonings. Investigators are treating the reports as potentially connected, but no arrests have been made and no suspect has been publicly identified.

Yucca Valley Town Manager Curtis Yakimow said town employees remain in “active observation” of the Community Center Complex. Town staff members have been instructed to direct information about possible incidents or suspects to the Sheriff’s Department.

Officials are advising residents to supervise pets whenever they are outdoors, including inside fenced yards. Dogs should be kept on short leashes in parks and shared public spaces and should not be allowed to eat chicken bones, meat scraps, treats or other objects found on the ground. Pet owners should also prevent animals from drinking from unfamiliar puddles.

Antifreeze containing ethylene glycol can cause severe kidney damage and death in dogs. Early symptoms may resemble intoxication and can include vomiting, weakness, loss of coordination, excessive thirst or unusual sleepiness. Because symptoms can temporarily appear to improve before serious organ damage develops, immediate veterinary treatment is critical whenever exposure is suspected.

Anyone who believes a pet has ingested a poisonous substance should move the animal away from the source and contact a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital immediately. When it can be done safely, owners should photograph or collect the suspected substance for investigators or veterinary testing.

Information about suspicious activity should be reported to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The department’s desert-area non-emergency dispatch number is 760-956-5001.