Woman tried to poison her neighbor's dog and thought she got away with it — until the owner showed up to court with proof
A woman’s sneaky attempt to poison her neighbor’s dog did not go as planned, as she was arrested for animal cruelty days later. The culprit, identified as Margaret Werker, was charged with the criminal act after the pet owner caught her in the act. He dragged her to court with proof. The police were involved, and officers claimed such cases are difficult to investigate due to a lack of evidence, but not this one.
The owner’s pet dog, Wrigley, was let out in the yard when Werker made a suspicious move at a Colorado Springs home. She reached the fence and tried to throw something over from the other side, but it got caught on top of the fence. Thankfully, the dog could not reach it, saving his life, as reported by 11 News. The incident that occurred in April 2019 was captured on surveillance footage and used as proof of her wrongdoing—without it, Werker might have gotten away with the act. The dog owner promptly informed animal law enforcement officials of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region to help him with the case.
"Poisoning cases can be very difficult to investigate and charge because usually there is very little evidence linking a suspect to the crime. However, in this case, the victim had proof. He had obtained video of his neighbor throwing a substance into his backyard,” the officials wrote in a release. It was confirmed that the object thrown by the woman tested positive for “poisonous material.” Werker was arrested and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals on May 4, 2019. Two months later, she pleaded guilty to the charge. The judge ordered her to make a $250 donation to the Humane Society.
While the poisoning case was solved, police sought to understand the root cause of the issue. Lindsey Vigna, Assistant Director for Law Enforcement, said, “There were some concerns with some complaints about a barking dog in that area. We weren’t really ever able to pinpoint down who it was coming from. But, we believe that’s where it stemmed from, a barking issue.” The victim ensured his dog was safe, and further investigation revealed that the item tossed by the woman was ground chicken dipped in antifreeze, the arrest papers disclosed, per the source. According to Poison Control, antifreeze is toxic when swallowed, even in small amounts. The toxicity of the substance (ethylene glycol) slowly affects the body as it breaks down into by-products, impairing the kidneys, the nervous system, and blood chemistry.
Under Penal Code 596 PC, it is a “misdemeanor” to intentionally poison another’s animal without consent or expose poison with the motive to harm the animal. “Every person who, without the consent of the owner, willfully administers poison to any animal, the property of another, or exposes any poisonous substance, with the intent that the same shall be taken or swallowed by any such animal, is guilty of a misdemeanor,” the law states. Punishment varies from up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000, per Keg Lawyers.