Roosevelt Island Dog Almost Dies Ingesting Rat Poison On Ground - Birds, Squirrels And Rats Found Lying Dead Left For Days Without Being Picked Up, Not Our Job To Pick Up Dead Animals RIOC Staffer Tells Resident

Earlier this week, a Roosevelt Island dog owner told me her dog becoming very sick requiring expensive treatment from a vet after ingesting poison while walking in back of Roosevelt Landings.

Yesterday, Roosevelt Island resident Natasa de Luca reports:

Today, while walking my dog on the walkway looking at Manhattan, I came across 3 dead squirrels grouped together next to a tree on the patch of green area along pool next to the Jack McManus soccer field.

This was a rather alarming and concerning sight since residents use this area for relaxation, kids play nearby. 

It was also especially worrisome to someone like myself who is a dog owner. There was no “black box” near the carcasses that could indicate that squirrels may have eaten the rat poison and it seems to me that if poisoned, whatever they ate, was dropped on the grounds. 

I waived down a RIOC pick up truck that was passing by, and two young men picked up the dead animals and took it in the back of the pick-up truck.  

A week ago a dog belonging to a RI resident almost died from rat poisoning. Other neighbors have come across multiple dead birds and rats that no one was picking up for days, and in certain cases even weeks.

When a neighbor went several times to RIOC office to alert on the issue she was faced with arrogant attitude and dismissal from the RIOC office and their representative claiming that it was not RIOC’s responsibility to “pick up dead animals”. My neighbor then said that she will report the issue via 311 and alert the local news outlets. Only at that point RIOC rep became responsive and they sent someone to pick up the dead birds my neighbor reported. 

I posted my sighting at RIOC Help Center but based on the above mentioned experience, I do not expect much.

I would appreciate if you may be able to include this issue in your blog and alert residents on this ongoing healt hazardous situation.

UPDATE 11/2 - Another Roosevelt Island resident reported yesterday: 

Just a heads up to other dog owners, we just saw another dead squirrel on the corner of the Community Garden going up Main, and another in the bark by Coler across from the Octagon playroom.