Police investigate meat packed with needles found in Schwertberg

Police are investigating after a dog found meat scraps containing several needles beside a footpath in Schwertberg, ORF reported.

A 69-year-old man was walking his dog at about 8 a.m. on Sunday when the animal came across the scraps near the Dachsberg footpath towards Aistinger Straße. The owner, from Schwertberg, saw needles protruding from the pieces of meat.

The man informed Schwertberg’s mayor, who contacted police. The person who placed the meat there is not known. Police suspect it may have been intended to injure animals.

Poisoned bait is also found on walking paths, according to ORF. The animal welfare organisation WWF is increasing its use of a trained detection dog, working with police to find the traps.