A San Jose dog walk turned unsettling this weekend when a local owner reported finding dozens of dog treats scattered across Berryessa Creek Park that she said smelled strongly of insecticide. She told officials she also found an empty container of Milk Bones tucked behind a tree, and that the gloves she used to gather the treats absolutely reeked and gave her a headache. City animal officials later collected the items so they could be removed and disposed of safely.
According to NBC Bay Area, Michelle Nguyen had been walking through the park with her husband, toddler and two dogs when one of the pets lunged toward what looked like a pile of treats. She began picking them up and discovered more scattered nearby. San José Animal Care and Services took custody of the items to ensure they were properly disposed of and urged the public not to let pets eat anything of unknown origin in public spaces.
What vets say
Local veterinarian Dr. Tal Solomon told NBC Bay Area he would stay away from the dog treats 100% and advised owners to pull dogs away from any food that looks out of place. He said to watch pets closely for signs like excessive drooling, vomiting or diarrhea, and to take them to an emergency veterinarian if any of those symptoms appear.
Where it happened and how to report
Berryessa Creek Park sits in San Jose’s Berryessa neighborhood. The city’s parks directory lists the park at Isadora Drive and Messina Drive and includes a "Report a Concern" line for park issues, according to the City of San José. Neighbors have shared photos and accounts of the suspected tainted treats on local forums and said they submitted reports to animal control. One detailed thread about the discovery appears on Reddit. For incidents involving pets, the city’s Animal Care Center site lists contact information and resources for people who need to report an exposure or bring an animal in.
Context and safety steps
Similar concerns have triggered precautionary closures in the area before. The City of Santa Clara temporarily shut down Nuevo Dog Park last August while officials carried out environmental testing after multiple dogs became sick and one died, according to a city news release. Authorities advise that if you find suspicious items, you should keep pets from eating them and contact San José Animal Care & Services or the parks department. If you believe your pet may have ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 for guidance.
