Their 3 Shih Tzus suffered sudden seizures after playing in the yard — one’s death uncovered a chilling threat hiding in the neighborhood for 5 years

The devastated owner said their pets were like children to them, as they don’t have kids of their own.

PUBLISHED 13 HOURS AGO

(L ) Three Shih Tzus pups ; (R) A woman grieving the loss of her dog, holding the lovely pet collar (Representative Cover Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) CazG Photography; (R) Solovyova)

Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of pet loss that some readers may find distressing

Losing a pet is a grief that does not leave soon. But when the death was caused with malicious intentions, it sure creates rage in any pet owner. When Sean Cornwall and his wife from Las Vegas lost one of their three Shih Tzus to an unusual seizure attack, it opened chilling details about the mysterious deaths surrounding their neighborhood pets.

Two dogs sitting beside each other (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Sam Lion) — Two dogs sitting beside each other. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Sam Lion)

It was a normal day for Cornwall and his wife, who had let their three Shih Tzus, Chewy, Luke, and Leia, in after they were in the yard. However, the couple noticed that all three of the dogs began convulsing, prompting them to rush to the nearest animal hospital. Initially, the veterinarian suspected THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) poisoning. But the couple was perplexed about this, as they did not own any product containing THC. Recalling the harrowing incident, Cornwall told the Las Vegas Sun, "They were all having seizures simultaneously. (The vet) pumped their stomachs and gave them charcoal."

A dog getting treated at a vet clinic. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Manu Vega)

Chewy and Luke were fortunate enough to make a full recovery. However, Leia suffered through 11 hours of seizures until her brain began to hemorrhage. Due to her failing condition, Leia had to be euthanized. "We brought her into the world, we were there when she was born. We don’t have kids, so these are our kids, essentially," Cornwall revealed. Heartbroken about the unexpected turn of events, Cornwall decided to send the contents from Leia's stomach to a specialized lab in California for testing. There, he learned the shocking revelation that led to the discovery of a chilling truth about the neighborhood. The test revealed that the dogs had ingested meatballs containing strychnine sorghum seeds, a strong pesticide used to kill rats, moles, and gophers.

Parents grieving loss of child. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by RDNE Stock Project) — Couple grieving loss of their pet. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by RDNE Stock Project)

Upon further investigation, they also learned that many other pets in their neighborhood had suffered similar sickness from these mysterious meatballs. According to their estimate, 15 of their neighborhood dogs had been poisoned similarly, dating back to 2014, with Connie Robertson-Butler’s German Shepherd being the first reported case, and it was targeted again in 2018. Cornwall immediately requested that the Metro Police install cameras on the street, but the culprit has yet to be caught. Cornwall has installed 30 cameras facing his front and back yards. He also revealed that some residents in the neighborhood have considered moving.

Calling the unidentified culprit an "up-and-coming psychopath," Cornwall said, "It’s the step leading up to being a serial killer, before they start killing humans. So either this guy is just a complete coward and this is what he’s happy with, or he’s working his way up for the next step." Cornwall's suspicion about the culprit's behavior aligns with a 2023 study by the University of Northern Colorado, which examined the relationship between psychopathy and animal abuse among forensic patients. The study highlighted that individuals with high levels of antisocial behavior, lack of empathy, and grandiosity were more likely to have a history of animal abuse.

If you’re grieving the loss of a companion animal, please reach out to Cornell Pet Loss Support Hotline at 1‑607‑218‑7457.