Police in Fredericton are investigating after complaints that someone may be trying to poison pets in a St. John Street neighbourhood.

One owner says the incidents began in January and involved items like laundry detergent pods, and chicken meat smelling of bleach.

Mary Quinn believes someone is trying to harm dogs in her neighbourhood and police are investigating. (CBC) Mary Quinn's dog Ace chewed a laundry detergent pod in January and she didn't think much of it at the time.

"You can still see the burn on his nose," said Quinn. "It's healed and healed well, but it's been costly to get to that point."

Quinn said that incident occurred after her dog jumped on a former neighbor, resulting in Ace now being required to wear a muzzle in public places.

A few days later Ace came across something unusual.

"There was a chicken that was stuffed with — and it was raw — stuffed with batteries and staples and little screws and metal shavings."

Ace didn't eat that piece of chicken, but Quinn called police and she says local pet owners were worried about the find.

Mary Quinn's dog Ace suffered a burn on his nose when he chewed a laundry detergent pod in January. (CBC) A few weeks later, Quinn found a dog's toy smelling of bleach near her door.

"And in July we've had three incidents of fully cooked chicken breasts with slices in them," said Quinn. "One time it looked like rat poison in the middle and some type of yellow goop that again smelled like Javex."

Lois Steeves' dog Charli came across a chicken breast in July.

"It just means I have to be a whole lot more vigilant when I take them out."

Quinn says other dogs in the area have been sick this year but there is no way of knowing what caused them to become sick.

Quinn says she's speaking out to warn others.

"I have two lovely daughters, and I have a son and my son just happens to have fur. I wouldn't try to hurt your children, please stop trying to hurt mine."