A woman from Kent has stopped letting her dogs and cats outside after repeatedly finding dead animals in her garden. Laura Hansen, 59, discovered the corpses of a rat and a pigeon within a week, leading her to suspect poisoning linked to a nearby housing development.
Hansen, who lives in Newington, has two chihuahuas named Hunni and Moose, and two cats, Big Ted and Lucky. She now keeps them indoors to protect them from potential toxins. 'My cats and dogs are now on lockdown,' she explained. 'They love going out there every day. If they had eaten that poisoned rat or pigeon, they would have become poisoned too.'
The developer, Dandara, denies using rodent poison. A spokesperson stated that no chemical pest control methods are being used at the Newington Green site, and all ecological management is supervised by a qualified ecologist. They added that only humane, ecologist-approved methods are employed for wildlife management.
Hansen, who runs Angels Hair and Beauty, expressed concern for both her pets and local wildlife. 'Cats have a right to roam and they are used to being out and about exploring,' she said. 'Who is going to pay the vet bills if something happens? I do not want anything to happen to them.'
She also criticized the response from local councils. When she contacted Swale Council and Kent County Council, they advised her to double-bag the animals and put them in the bin. 'These are potentially poisoned animals. Surely there must be a better way than putting them in the rubbish?' she said.
Another local resident, construction worker Robert Lee, 42, voiced concerns about his children's safety. 'We have not had dead rats in my garden, but after finding out about the rats being found, it is worrying because if they had been on our property on the trampolines where my kids go, then they can spread that poison,' he said.
The Dandara housing scheme, known as Newington Green, was initially denied by the council on pollution grounds but approved on appeal in 2023. The company emphasized its commitment to environmental regulations and biodiversity, including features like hedgehog highways and bird nesting boxes.
Hansen remains anxious about the future. 'I have no idea when I will be able to let them out again, I am just so worried,' she concluded.
