To ask people to please not leave wild bird food on the floor/within reach of dogs?

[TaDuck]

Several people in my local area have taken to scattering bird seed that contains raisins/sultanas on the ground or on little food stations that are low to the ground. A friend of mine had to take her dog to the vet this morning because he was snaffling around and started tucking in before she realised it was raisins.

Raisins (even in very small amounts) are toxic to dogs, cats and possibly other wildlife like foxes.

I've posted on the FB group for my local area as well but just wanted to put it on here to share as widely as I can!

I feel sorry for the poor dog but as an owner of two of them, this post could be about anything really.

You have to watch them like a hawk when you're walking them, to make sure they don't gobble these things up.

Hazards here include discarded chicken shop bones, hypodermic needles and wild mushrooms.

So these bird feeders are in public areas? And why are the dogs not on leads in the first place?

Agree. No snaffling should ever be allowed!

Our wild bird population is in decline - the kind people who leave the food should be applauded. Perhaps keep dogs on a short lead and be aware what they're doing at all times?

My niece's two spaniels found and ate some marijuana in a woodland. Expensive trip to the vet for both of them.

Dogs should be on leads in areas where there are lots of wild birds so as not to chase them, especially ground dwelling birds like ducks.

There's always one 😆

And what would you suggest we do with hedgehogs, to site just one example? Raisins are toxic to them as well as a number of other animals. It's not only dogs.

If people want to feed the birds, the should buy proper food and put it in areas where other animals - domesticated and wild - cannot eat it.

The amount of crap food that is discarded in the environment under the excuse of 'feeding the birds' is insane.

Nope. More than one actually.

OP gave examples of a few animals that could be affected

thank you OP, I didn’t know any of that

I've got dogs and bird feeders always use wild bird food.

And what would you suggest we do with hedgehogs, to site just one example? Raisins are toxic to them as well as a number of other animals. It's not only dogs

get them on a lead apparently 🤷🏻

You got to catch them first 😆

The area I'm talking about is residential (paths with greenery either side) leading to the popular dog walking fields. Lots of off lead dogs but also roaming cats.

To clarify I'm definitely not saying don't feed the birds - we do ourselves but with bird feeders in the trees not directly on the ground. Or if it is going on the ground, people could buy a raisin free mix.

I totally agree that there are always going to be hazards and people need to keep a close eye on their dogs but this seems an avoidable hazard - I've walked past these piles of food myself on the ground and with the best will in the world even a dog on a lead could get at it before the owner has had a chance to react.

Lol! 😂And to think, up until now I was glad MN got rid of the laugh emoji!

Never known any bird food that has raisins.

Thinking about it red they probably need a harness type lead 🤔

You got to catch them first

oh and those cuties can move!!!

My cat used to eat raisins/sultanas quite a lot! I didn't realise they shouldn't (ps she is very much alive).

Hard to get on, they roll up lol

Hard to get on, they roll up lol

lasso?

Might try that next time.

Might explain your user name 😬

Our labrador knocked 5 mince pies off the bird table when he was a puppy and ate the lot. He is still alive and kicking and regrets nothing 😂
I wouldn't deliberately give them to him though! He is just a scavenger.

I have been feeding birds for 60+ years and have yet to come across a shop bought bird food that contains dried fruit so it can't be a massive problem. It sounds like it might be someone getting rid of old muesli or something so again, not widespread. It's good to spread the word about dogs and dried and fresh grapes though. My (adult) niece refused to stop feeding her dog grapes because she had taught him to balance them on his nose and it was, apparently, "c-yoot". Luckily he was a Labrador with a cast iron stomach but some other breeds seem particularly prone to this kind of poisoning .