Dangerous Baits Discovered: Sausage Laced with Screws Found Near Jena

Jena/Crossen an der Elster (11.02.2026) – It is every dog owner’s nightmare: while out for a relaxed walk, the four-legged companion sniffs in the grass, and just seconds later, the animal’s life could be in danger. In the Saale-Holzland-Kreis, not far from Jena, such a case of attempted animal cruelty has now been officially recorded.

Dangerous Discovery in Crossen

According to the local police inspection, a concerned woman contacted officers on Tuesday afternoon. In the municipality of Crossen an der Elster, she had discovered a piece of sausage that had obviously been manipulated. A closer examination confirmed the suspicion: unknown perpetrators had laced the piece of meat with screws – a deadly trap for dogs or cats that would eat the bait.

Responding police officers were able to secure two screws in the discarded sausage at the scene. However, that was not all: a short time later, a 40-year-old passerby contacted the officers again, as she had found more of these prepared baits in the vicinity. The police have initiated an investigation to clarify the circumstances and the identity of the unknown perpetrators.

Danger to Life and Limb of Animals

Such so-called “poison baits” – although in this case, the focus is on mechanical injuries – pose a massive threat. If sharp objects such as screws, nails, or razor blades are swallowed, they can cause severe internal injuries in the gastrointestinal tract. Often, emergency surgery is the only way to save the animal. Veterinarians urgently advise seeking a clinic immediately if ingestion of such a foreign object is suspected and under no circumstances inducing vomiting, as the sharp objects could injure the esophagus again.

Legally speaking, this is by no means a “prank.” Placing such baits can be considered a violation of the Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz) and carries criminal consequences, especially if animals are harmed.

Further Regional News from the Area

In addition to the incident in Crossen, events in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis kept emergency services busy in other locations as well:

• Stadtroda: On Tuesday morning, a collision involving a school bus occurred on the street “Unterm Markt”. Especially during the morning rush hour and school traffic, such accidents often cause significant delays.
• Hermsdorf: A 59-year-old driver lost control on the route towards Trotz on Monday afternoon and drove through a fence into a stream. There was also an incident in a supermarket in Hermsdorf on Tuesday evening, where a collision led to a report of physical assault.
• Eisenberg: Vandalism is occupying the police in the north of the district. A man discovered a broken-open electrical box on Monday afternoon, from which cables had been stolen.
• Tröbnitz: A burglary into a residential house on Saturday afternoon resulted in significant loot for the still unknown perpetrators.

Conclusion and Outlook

The police are urgently requesting information from the public regarding the baits placed in Crossen. Anyone who observed suspicious individuals should report immediately. Dog owners in the region are advised to keep their animals on a short leash for the time being and to be particularly attentive to what their pets pick up along the path.

Read original article in German