🐶 DogsDog treats spiked with fish hooks found on a popular hiking trail – authorities sound the alarm
On a stretch of the famous Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, a hiker found innocent-looking treats – with fish hooks hidden inside. Now authorities are warning all dog owners and asking for help.
A disturbing find on the trail
What began as a peaceful walk in nature ended in a disturbing discovery. On the North Trail Loop near the George W. Outerbridge shelter – a section of the world-famous Appalachian Trail in Washington Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania – a hiker found several dog treats scattered along the path.
At first glance the small, yellowish rolls looked completely harmless – like the kind of snacks every dog loves. But a closer look revealed the sinister truth: each treat had a fish hook carefully worked into the soft mass, almost impossible to spot. A dog gulping one down would have no chance of noticing the sharp barbs in time.
Thinking quickly, the hiker gathered up the dangerous baits and emailed photos to the Lehigh Gap Nature Center that same morning. From there the warning went straight to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the state's wildlife authority.
«This is an extremely unusual and deeply disturbing incident,» said Dustin Stoner, game warden and head of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Southeast office. The agency believes the baits were placed entirely on purpose – a cold-blooded act aimed deliberately at animals.
