Fact or fiction: Dogs are being poisoned on trails in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Most of those in South Lake Tahoe and the rest of the South Shore are dog-loving people, and enjoy taking their dogs on walks, many going into the meadows and forests to run them off-leash.

South Lake Tahoe dog owners have been on guard for weeks because of online rumors suggesting dogs are being poisoned by chicken left out to kill coyotes. This message has blown up and spread through the dog community, as one can imagine.

South Tahoe Now reached out to all local veterinary offices, El Dorado County Animal Control, South Lake Tahoe Police, and the El Dorado County Sheriff to see if the poisoning messages were rumors, or true.

There have been no confirmed cases matching the one described in the rumors.

What can be verified is that a dog did die in May 2023 from unknown causes. According to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, a deputy looked into the circulating stories and found that a local dog was off-leash at the end of Lodi Avenue near the Hartoonian Trail loops. It got ill and later died. The veterinarian could not confirm how the dog died and its owner turned down more testing. If you believe you have a dog that has been poisoned, notify law enforcement.

“El Dorado County Animal Services was notified regarding the dog that passed away," said El Dorado County Animal Services’ Chief, Henry Brzezinski. "Our officers responded to the area and surrounding area the same day, and multiple times over the next several days to assess the situation and to look for any suspects. Our officers reviewed the area both on foot and by vehicle but did not see any signs of poisoning or other obvious safety concerns in the area for people or pets. Should anyone see or know of any suspicious activity in that area, please report it immediately to Animal Services or law enforcement. Intentional poisoning of animals can be charged as a felony in accordance with Penal Code section 597, punishable with a fine of up to $20,000 and/or 3 years imprisonment.”

“Also, as always, it’s important that pet owners remember to be vigilant about keeping their pets on leash so that they remain under the watchful eye of their owners at all times," added Brzezinski. "This not only provides a safeguard for the dog but also complies with local leash laws. Both El Dorado County and the City of South Lake Tahoe have leash laws. In El Dorado County, a dog must be on a 10 ft leash or confined within an enclosed public or private lot. In the City, a dog must be on a 10 ft leash as well and not loose on any public property or private property other than the owners or a designated dog park.”

Many may remember the same type of rumor being spread in the past, but there were no confirmations of actual poisoning at that time either.

Dog owners do need to be aware that some things in nature can be harmful to their pets. Wolf lichen found on trees and some mushrooms are toxic, as are Milkweed, Oak acorns, Death Camas, Horse Chestnut, Tansy, and Mayapple, all of which can grow at Tahoe's elevation.