Pomeranian Coast

Poisoned meat eaten by dogs, neighbor arrested in Bethany

Erik Mighells is charged with animal cruelty

BETHANY, Ore. (KOIN) – John and Shannon Motter said they couldn’t imagine life without their dogs Gracie and Barry.

“We got both when they were little,” Shannon said. Gracie is “a Pomeranian Chihuahua mix. (Barry) is a Pomeranian Shih-Tzu mixture. “

On Monday night, Barry hopped onto her couch with a hamburger in his mouth. But the hamburger was covered with green pellets. John was immediately concerned and then scared as he researched what the pellets might be.

He realized that it was probably rat poison.

Shannon and John said the rat poison prevented the blood from clotting so they bleed internally.

They got the dogs to the vet as soon as possible. Gracie and Barry are now taking medication to stop the effects of any toxins they may have ingested. But they said sometimes the drugs don’t work and they don’t know if their dogs will be out of the woods for a few more days.

“It’s a terrible death,” said John. “And it’s a long and painful death.”

After the first burger was found in Barry’s mouth, he found a second one in his garden. He thinks it came over his neighbor’s fence. A Washington County MP came out and walked through the property, he said.

Bethany’s Erik Mighells Accused of Poisoning his Neighbor’s Dogs, Aug 5, 2021 (Washington County Sheriff’s Office)

“After the second she came on site. We walked through the property with her, ”said John.

The property has been cleared. But then Tuesday night a third poisonous flatbread was placed or thrown on his garden – while he was installing security cameras.

Her neighbor Erik Mighells was arrested on August 4, two days after the first poisoned meat was thrown in the yard. The 57-year-old is facing charges of first-degree animal cruelty. He is being held in the Washington County Jail.

The motters can only watch Gracie and Barry wait for the tests and the blood count.

“You’re already taking the medication,” Shannon said. “But we don’t know. They couldn’t do it. “

John said the neighborhood is on an alert and concerned about other pets and animals in the community. He advises his neighbors to search their gardens for anything similar to what they found in theirs.

Bethany’s Erik Mighells Accused of Poisoning his Neighbor’s Dogs, Aug 5, 2021 (Washington County Sheriff’s Office)