Sunderland: dog potentially killed by polluted stream

A dog in Sunderland may have been killed by the chemical pollution in a local stream. According to owner Gavin Haskett, the dog became ill with vomiting and bloody diarrhoea hours after walking into the stream. After receiving initial treatment at Roker Park Vets, the animal was referred to a pet hospital in Cramlington, Northumberland, for specialist care, but to no avail. A later investigation by the Environment Agency into suspected pollution found a burst pipe had allowed wastewater to spill into the stream. The pipe has since been repaired, and Northumbrian Water has expressed regret for the incident. Rory Thomson, practice owner at Roker Park Vets, said they had been dealing with several dogs falling ill after walking in the stream in recent weeks. Some of them required hospitalization due to the severity of symptoms. Thomson added that it is not clear if the stream area is safe for dogs to walk again after the polluting incident. Malcolm Bond, Liberal Democrat councillor for Fulwell, said Northumbrian Water should provide compensation to owners whose “dogs have been killed or made ill” by the stream pollution. However, the Environment Agency said it could not confirm whether reports of animal illness were linked to the leakage.