Someone Is Leaving A Trail Of Deadly Snacks For Dogs Along A Busy Street: Police

PASADENA, CA — Grapes, chocolate and other items that can sicken — or even kill — dogs are among the foods that a man has been leaving out on public walkways in Pasadena in recent months. Now, authorities are asking for the public's help identifying the man, who they say is going out of his way to hurt dogs.

The man has left grapes and chocolates alongside rice or noodles on public walkways "to entice dogs to eat them" near Foothill Boulevard, county Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement Tuesday. Barger circulated a security video depicting a man crossing a walkway at the corner of the Dogtopia boarding facility in East Pasadena.

The man caught on video has been targeting Foothill Boulevard for several months, specifically on walkways between Sierra Madre and Rosemead boulevards. The man has been leaving clusters of grapes and M&Ms, according to Dogtopia General Manager Jacks Vasquez.

"I've been in the animal care and veterinary business for over a decade. I can definitely say that consuming even the smallest amount of grapes can be lethal. Eating chocolate can also make dogs very sick and result in thousands of dollars in veterinary bills," Vasquez said in a statement.

Grapes are highly toxic for dogs; even a single grape can cause sudden kidney failure in canines, according to the American Kennel Club.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs, too. If a dog eats chocolate, it can lead to a medical emergency, depending on the weight of the dog and the amount and type of chocolate they consume, according to the AKC.

Barger declared the acts "animal cruelty" that needs to be stopped at once.

"I am outraged that someone is going out of their way to hurt dogs and their unsuspecting owners who are just enjoying a trot down Foothill Boulevard," Barger said.

Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris urged the public to share any information about the incidents with police. "Any actual and reported cruelty to animals will be taken very seriously and with assertive enforcement," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4501 or online.