A central Alberta community where 13 dogs were poisoned last spring is now dealing with more canine troubles.
Police say a dog returned to its home in Mirror last week with pellet shots in its face and another animal was found dismembered.
Sgt. Geoff Buxcey with the Bashaw RCMP says he doesn't believe the latest attacks are related to the poisonings.
The dogs that were poisoned in April ate meat laced with strychnine, which is typically used to kill gophers.
Dogs were also poisoned in Mirror in 2008 and 2010, but no suspect was ever picked up.
Buxcey said the latest incidents are still under investigation.
"Dogs that run at large on farmland, if they're disturbing cattle, then they can be dispatched," he said.
Mirror residents are worried that a person could end up be harmed.
"It's so disturbing that someone can do this to an animal," said dog owner Amy Priegnitz. "Imagine what they can do to people. I'm worried that this is going to switch from dogs to people."
Priegnitz found a sausage with a cut down the side in her front yard on May 30. Her dog, a four-month old German shepherd named Panda, was still inside the house.
Priegnitz called the RCMP to report the finding.
"I want to know why they're doing it so that I can avoid being a target," said Priegnitz, who now leaves Mirror to walk Panda.
Police are reminding residents to carefully check their yards before letting pets outside and to report any meat they discover to the RCMP.
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