The Edmonton Humane Society is warning pet owners to keep a closer eye on what pets get into after three pet deaths in the northeast neighbourhood of Montrose.

Society spokesperson Shawna Randolph said the Edmonton Police Service alerted EHS to three potential cases of poisonings near 122 Avenue and 64 Street in recent weeks.

A release from EHS said one mother cat and her five kittens, a puppy and a dog may have been poisoned in three separate incidents from eating something tainted in the area, but stressed that nothing is confirmed.

“Regardless of whether someone is intentionally poisoning animals or whether they are eating items naturally harmful to them, pet owners always need to be aware of what their pets are getting into,” Randolph said Wednesday.

EPS spokesperson Clair Seyler said that at this point the poisonings don’t seem connected or criminal, but a warning was issued anyway to remind owners to keep pets safe.

“There would need to be an (necropsy) and the cause of death would have to be determined to be poisoning. We don’t have that at this time, so we don’t know what the cause of death was for these eight animals in three difference incidents. We’ve investigated the area, we’ve investigated deaths, and there is nothing at this time that shows that this is criminal,” said Seyler, adding one necropsy had been completed, but it was deemed inconclusive.

EHS is reminding owners to follow these tips to prevent poisonings:

• Do not allow pets to ever roam unsupervised
• Scan backyards for anything suspicious, and make sure gates are closed before letting pets outside
• While on walks or at off-leash parks, ensure that pets aren’t eating anything on the ground
• Keep pets away from places sprayed with pesticides or herbicides, and also away from where the chemicals are stored
• If owners take their animals out for a walk near a pond or neighborhood lake, pets should not be allowed to drink the water as it could contain harmful bacteria;
• Distract their pets from stalking or chasing a bee or wasp. It is common for pets to be stung in the summer and fall.

If anyone has information, they are urged to call EPS at 780-423-4567.