Hi, I was speaking to a couple today who were discussing the use of poisoned bait resulting in the deaths of dogs being allowed off lead in the campo around Archidona. Does anyone have any information relating to this?

Happens all over andalucía. Part of living in Spain so I am told on this forum.

I am in the Alpujarras just now and it is a problem in this area too. The bait is supposedly to kill foxes so they have birds to shoot.

I was told that the Junta are now seeking to charge people caught carrying out the baited poisoning 'estrategia para la erradicacion del uso ilegal de cebos envenenados'. The dogs spoken of were pets unfortunate enough to pick up the bait...dreadful!!

Here are some valuable information about poisoning:
Poisoning in domestic animals

I know at least three dogs in my tiny village that have been poisoned. Do not let your dog off the lead in the campo.

It's a common problem all over Spain, as is the deliberate poisoning of cats also.

My dog's never ON the lead.... same as not allowing myself to be frightened to death & triple-bolted doors etc by robberies I won't be cowed by stories of poisoning. OK I face a backlash because that leaves my dog open to potential danger, but otherwise she'd be tied up day in day out and what life is that for a dog used to being free all the daylight hours (and some hours of darkness if she's successful at avoiding us come nightfall!!) - campo dogs are campo dogs. They eat compost, dead whatevers, maybe sometimes live whatevers. Now does that mean I condone easy-access poison? Of course not.

That's fair enough. I just was warning people about the risk of poisonong. if you are prepared to run that risk, sobeit. I tend to agree with you actually.

Sorry, got on my hobby horse a bit .... everyone with dogs should definitely be aware there are people who place poison without thought as to what or who might find and eat it, and those placing poison should really be obliged to do it in a way that eliminates or minimises risks to anything NOT the target of the poisoning.

Thats pretty irresponsable and the reason poison gets put down ,dogs when unattended will kill poultry ,cats etc and chase larger livestock often causing death through stress, Ive had to shoot several dogs on my land for killing our cats and poultry and feel they are also a risk to children, especially when in season they often go completely mad and start roaming and killing in packs ,dont give me "my dog would not hurt a fly" either as when in a pack they change completely.

Not so. I don't know where you live or the circumstances, fencing, lack of, proximity of other properties, animals, etc., but I'd lay lottery sums of money that none of my neighbours would have seen my dog any nearer than approaching the top of our track or way down in the arroyo (where, I hasten to add, the most she's likely to encounter is a wild boar or a rabbit). She's socialised with Juan the goatman's dogs and of course they're there not to chase the goats in a 'pack' way. Sure she barks when the goats are round, but Juan's never been seen to wield his slingshot at her or even yell expletives - which I'm damn sure he would if she were even a slight problem. The only dog that's ever caused a problem around here was a podenco which one of our neighbours dispatched with his trusty shotgun.
Depending on location, etc., as I've explained above, your point is doubtless valid. Oh, and to be pedantic about it, of course she's on a lead when we go to the coast or whatever because someone wants to 'take her for a walk'.

Back to the plot. Animal owners should be aware of the possibility of poison and poisoners should take care not to injure/kill those they're not targetting.

It isn't just the risk to dogs and other roaming animals but also the risk to children and adults who may come into contact with it. Poison injected on a 1 : 1 basis is very specific. Poison put down as bait is very non-specific and who knows what is the "safe" dosage. What happens if a pig keels over and the owner decides to eat it ??
This is almost the same as leaving a live landmine.

Very true, I used to have more than my fair share of problems with dogs that "wouldn't hurt a fly", killing and worrying livestock and especially sheep, and always much worse when running in packs which they tend to do eventually if given too much freedom.

Remember they all evolved from wolves and once they get their first taste of blood it's usually a bad job
The owners tended not to believe what their harmless little mutts had been up to, until confronted with the grisly evidence accompanied by their beloved now deceased pet.

Thankfully in more recent years in the UK it's much less of a problem since the coming of dog wardens and strays being cleared off the streets.

Don't want to go overboard about it since much of what you say is true - in context - given it was my post/dog that brought up the 'irresponsible' mention, I'd just refer you to my later post above.