Dog walkers warned after dog treats with fish hooks in them found at popular exercise spot

Dog owners at a popular area for exercising pets in Devon are being warned to look out for fish hooks planted in dog treats and scattered on the ground. The hooks appear to have been deliberately dropped on the tidal road at Aveton Gifford, near Kingsbridge, where many locals and visitors walk their dogs.

A warning has been posted on the village’s community Facebook page, urging others to look out for the ‘baited’ hooks and to keep their dogs away. The post, by Emma Jane, reads: “All dog walkers please be aware that I found what appear to be some sort of animal treat/pellets on large fish hooks on the ground by the bench on the tidal road (at the point where the road crosses the creek).



“I found three in total, surrounded by the same pellets without hooks. Unfortunately my dog found them first (fingers crossed he is ok). I did have a good look but there may be more.” Emma Jane later posted that her dog Alf, had three fish hooks removed from his colon, but is now doing really well, and should be fine.

The area has been the scene of conflict recently over the feeding of swans on the river. Huge numbers of swans have a been attracted to the Avon estuary as a result of regular feeding and in one incident a horse rider was thrown when her mount was ‘spooked’ by the swans.