A photo of a pill pocket.

Update: The Washington Humane Society has closed the investigation after its Humane Law Enforcement division was unable to “substantiate the
claim that there is anyone out there intentionally attempting to harm pets.” The case will be reopened if additional evidence is found.

Original Post

The Washington Humane Society is trying to confirm a report that “pill pockets” — dog treats designed to dispense medicine — filled with something toxic are being dropped in the Logan Circle neighborhood.

A man on the Dog Owners of Greater Shaw Yahoo Group says his black labrador was hospitalized for ingesting acetaminophen in pill pockets last Thursday. The dog is expected to recover, but had to undergo a blood transfusion, the man reported. According to the dog’s owner, who asked to remain anonymous, the Friendship Animal Hospital in Tenleytown recovered around 10,000 milligrams of acetaminophen from the dog’s vomit when it first arrived at the vet. In total, around 22,000 milligrams worth of 500 and 650 milligram acetaminophen capsules, the majority still in pill pockets, were recovered from the dog’s stomach.

It is suspected the dog ingested the acetaminophen during a midday walk, although the dog’s walker did not see this happen.

Request for comment from the Friendship Animal Hospital has not been returned.

According to PetMD.com, “dogs will typically experience acetaminophen toxicity at over 75 milligrams per kilogram body weight.” This means a dog weighing 50 pounds (or 22.68 kilograms) could be poisoned by just over 1,700 milligrams of acetaminophen.

While the Metropolitan Police Department apparently told the man a police report could not be filed, Scott Giacoppo, the Washington Humane Society’s vice president of external affairs, told DCist this offense could be a felony.

Giacoppo said the organization is seeking information about the possibly toxic dog treats. He asked anyone with information to contact the Washington Humane Society at (202) 723-5730.