Dog walkers angry as raw chicken appears at Freemantle Common

Facebook users first reported the peculiar poultry popping up in Freemantle Common in December, posting in a group made for dog walkers who visit the park.

But the chicken continues to appear even into the new year, with pet behaviourist Alice Cavalleri posting a photo of raw meat in the grass last week, and further reports earlier this week.

“The dog walker community of Freemantle Common is quite upset, many dogs have been sick over the years and we are all weary of any food being left at the park,” Alice said.

She and her dog-walking Facebook friends believe that the chicken is being left out by someone who wants to feed foxes.

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But Alice – who runs a Southampton-based pet training business 360 Pawsibilities – warns how dangerous the raw meat can be for dogs.

She said: “Dogs are naturally scavengers and will eat food found on the grounds, my elder dog ate something at Freemantle Common just before Christmas 2023 and ended up at a pet hospital with a strong gastroenteritis.

“He recovered well but had to be force fed with a tube for a while and although his health comes first for us, it was quite an expense. Not everyone can sustain vet bills or has pet insurances.”

Raw chicken in the grass at Freemantle Common. (Image: Alice Cavalleri) Alice noted that raw bones are not dangerous for dogs if properly chewed, but that many would try to "gulp" the meat down.

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This could cause suffocation as the bones could get stuck, but they could also break in half which could result in sharp ends.

“We also don't know where this food comes from, if it's in date, how long it's been there, and what pathogens it might have,” Alice said.

“It can be a choking hazard for bigger dogs too, my border collie weighs about 20 kg and almost choked on one try to swallow it raw.

“We are suspecting he might have a chicken allergy, so it could have injured him and also upset his tummy.”

A spokesperson from Southampton City Council said: "We were previously unaware of this. It is likely that a well-intentioned resident left this out in an attempt to feed the foxes.

"We will investigate during our routine checks. We kindly remind residents that leaving food for wild animals can unintentionally lure unwelcome guests."