BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Veterinary Services Department has taken various samples for testing following the death of nearly 30 dogs in Tanjung Bunga here recently.
They included soil, grass, leftover meat and water from a stream near a neighbourhood there.
State DVS director Dr Saira Banu Mohamed Rejab said the samples were taken over the past few weeks for analysis.
"We are awaiting the results from the Chemistry Department. It may take some time," she said at the sidelines of the National Animal Welfare Day celebration here today.
Elaborating, Saira said it was hard to pinpoint what could have caused the poisoning, whether done deliberately or that the dogs had ingested the pesticide.
Last Friday, another dog died of suspected poisoning as mystery surrounds the spate of such cases in Penang.
In the latest case, a dog was found dead at the Linear Park around a condominium in Tanjung Bunga here.
This latest incident brings to about 30 cases of dogs found dead from suspected poisoning.
One of the dogs, a 6-year-old Husky named Lilou, was believed to have died after consuming food or grass contaminated with poison near the Mira Residence condominium.
Animal lovers and non-governmental organisations have called for immediate actions to put a stop to such an incident.