A Scots family have been left devastated after their Golden Retriever died hours after eating toxic waste dumped behind a church in Glasgow.
Four year old Oakley was out with his dog walker near Bargeddie Parish Church in the east end of the city when he ate the poisonous waste last Monday.
His panicked owner Jane Rainey, 33, received a text from the dog walker to say her beloved pooch had been rushed to the vet after he ate something from the side of a path and began vomiting.
Oakley initially seemed okay and was given an anti-sickness jab and medication and sent home. But the next day the dog's organs began to shut down and he died hours later.
Mum-of three Jane, who works as a teacher, claimed the vet said she had 'never seen a case like it'.
She said: "He was at the vets within an hour of him eating the substance - but the following day he was struggling to walk, looked shaky and fragile and he was just lying down in the garden and couldn't get up.
"We took him back to the vet but when we arrived she looked at me and said 'We'll do everything we can but he might not make it'. I just crumbled."
The vet told Jane and her partner John Cox that Oakley was suffering from severe poisoning and his liver was failing so he would have to be kept in. The couple were then called back hours later to say their goodbyes.
Tearful Jane said: "We got there 10 minutes before he died.
"The vet said she had never seen a dog deteriorate so quickly after ingesting something poisonous.
"The substance burnt through his gastrointestinal tract and his organs failed. He was dying from the minute he ate it."
The family, who are emigrating to Australia next year, have been left devastated by the death of their beloved pet.
"My children have grown up with Oakley - now there is a piece of our family missing.
"We are emigrating to Australia next year and Oakley had all his jags to come with us.
"This has ripped our family apart."
Jane's mum and her dog walker both reported the incident to Public Health Scotland and asked for the waste to be removed. She claims both were given incident reference numbers and told the report would be passed to the relevant department.
However more than a week later - the toxic substance - which has still not been identified - remains at the path. Jane fears another family could suffer the same fate as the area is popular with dog walkers.
She added: "The waste is blue, and has an awful stench. It's inside a bowl near the path. We don't know what it is, or how it got there.
"We were told it would be dealt with within five days and I would receive a call back. I've not heard anything since and the waste is still there.
"What if another pet or a child goes near it?"
Jane took a sample of the waste and handed it into the vets to be sent for testing. She is now urging dog walkers and parents to avoid the area until the matter is resolved.
Public Health Scotland were contacted for comment but did not provide a statement.
A North Lanarkshire Council spokesperson said: “The first we were made aware of this incident was when the Daily Record contacted us today.
“A member of our Waste Services team is currently heading to the site to investigate the situation. It may require a specialist operator to dispose of the material.”
Upon inspection on Friday afternoon, the waste was found to be on private land close to borders for both North Lanarkshire Council and Glasgow City Council.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "A spokesman for the council said: “We are saddened to learn of this incident.
“It appears the waste has been dumped on private land but we are linking with SEPA so this incident can be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
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