Nail-pierced cocktail sausages have been left on Wandsworth streets, injuring at leasts two dogs.

Wandsworth Times:

Police have said this is the second time the "nasty" act has happened in little over a year.

The Fairfield neighbourhood team is warning pet owners to take extra care when walking their dogs along Tonsley Hill after animals had emergency surgery having eating the spiked bangers.

One of those dogs was eight-month-old Corby, a Scottish terrier.

His owner Danielle Richards, said she was walking him on Tuesday morning, and by Tuesday night he was taken ill.

She said: "He was operated on on Tuesday night, and one nail was removed but they could not find the other nail.

"We thought it might come out by itself, or might be stuck.

"He will have a second endoscopy and hopefully it will not move so they can find it.

"He is currently ill in hospital."

Mrs Richards said she and her husband got the word out to other dog owners on their street and picked up the other sausages.

She said: "I can't believe anyone would want to do this.

"There is no gain, it is just cruel.

"This is sinister, it is not a rash moment.

"It is a long process to buy the sausages, and the nails.

"There are so many moments that a person who was cross at the beginning would stop."

Mrs Richards said she wished she could be the one on the operating table, rather than her dog.

She said: "It is the dog who suffers, the poor animal who does not want to cause harm."

PC Matthew Gittins, ward officer, said: "We have had two reports that a rather nasty individual has been dropping cocktail sausages on the pavement which have nails inside them.

"Two dogs have fallen victim to this and have had to have emergency surgery.

"Some residents have collected other sausages and the street cleaning team is aware and they are looking into it."

PC Gittins said that the team would be looking into CCTV footage to spot anyone who may be dropping items along the road.

He said: "This has happened before, more than a year ago.

"If you are walking in the dark, take a torch and if you have a muzzle, then muzzle your dog."

PC Gittins has advised dog owners to keep their dogs on a short leash to ensure they do not pick up the scent and start eating.

Dog owners should take their pets to an emergency vet as soon as they spot any adverse symptoms.

PC Gittins said: "Vigilance will be key to combat this."

Anyone with information about the sausages should email fairfield.snt@met.police.uk or call 020 8785 8463.