Michigan family's dog poisoned with antifreeze-laced meatballs

CANTON TWP, Mich. (WJBK) - A Clinton Township family says their beloved Labrador was just 7 years old when he died. But he wasn't hit by a car and didn't suffer from any disease. They said he was poisoned with antifreeze.

Kristen Card said Max, her 7-year-old yellow lab, was full of energy and was very lovable. She said Max went from playing in the backyard one day to having to say good-bye - all because someone poisoned her dog. 

"We're crushed that he's gone because of somebody's senseless behavior," she said. "We still don't know why, who. It's a horrible nightmare."

Card said the 84-pound pup was playing outside on February 17th but when he came in, he suddenly threw up on the floor. She said he acted like his normal self so she didn't worry too much. 

The next day, she said he could barely stand.

"From 3 am to 5 am Sunday he vomited about 6 to 8 more times," Card said. "I knew there was something wrong with him at this point, I just didn't know what."

Card's sister rushed Max to the veterinarian who quickly recognized signs of poisoning.

Just a couple days later, the dog was in stage three kidney failure and couldn't urinate. He was also suffering seizures and Kristen knew time was almost up.

"We knew then that he wasn't going to make it. We got a call at 2:22 am Monday morning, saying that he had passed," Card said.

She and her family had to say their hard goodbyes and then received a test that showed Max and ingested a large amount of antifreeze. 

"Immediately at daybreak, my husband's up and out in the yard, trying to figure out what Max got into," Card said.

She said her husband remembered seeing Max digging in one area of the backyard just a few days before he died.

"That's where he found what looked to be bread balls or meat balls."

She found crumbs and handed it all over to the police. She said her neighbors have never complained about Max and can't imagine who would do this.

"Somebody took time out of their day to put it in my backyard with the sole intention of killing my dog," Card said. "He didn't deserve to die like this. It was a horrible death, he suffered, he was innocent, he never hurt anybody."

She has set up a GoFundMe page so she can offer a reward to catch the person responsible for killing her beloved pet.