DOG owners should be extra careful this time of year after several festive snacks – that could be fatal if scoffed by a dog – were left in a park.

The warning comes from Friends of Towneley Park, a country park in Burnley, who posted a message on their social media page to let followers know that someone had left mice pies on the floor.

Mince pies are extremely dangerous for dogs due to the inclusion of raisins that can cause acute kidney failure, and in some cases death, reports LancsLive.

The warning reads: “It’s been brought to our attention that someone has been putting mince pies out in the park for the wildlife.

“I know that this is purely with good intentions, but mince pies contain things that can be poisonous, especially to dogs.

“If a dog eats one and the owner is unaware then it can become ill very quickly, or even if they do notice and know the dangers it might require a visit to the vets, an expense that people can do without at this time of year.

“A lot of festive foods can be harmful to both pets and wildlife so please don’t leave them in the park where they could do more harm than good.”

Dog owner Linda Derbyshire, who lives in the local area, has had her own experience with mince pies and her spaniel Luna.

She said Luna managed to “nick” them out of the cupboard on Christmas Day whilst the family busy eating Christmas dinner.

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She told the outlet: “After Googling if they could harm them, all the advice was seek immediate vets help.

“We have two dogs but didn’t know who the culprit was, and they both looked guilty.

“So we rushed them over to Stanley House (vets) and they had an injection to make them sick.”

Linda found out her spaniel luna had eaten the mince pies.

She added: “Her Westie brother, Walter, was not very impressed at what she had put him through!

“Another injection was needed for anti sickness and then Luna had to have a course of charcoal.”

Although both dogs were ok, it still cost Linda £300 in vet bills, and that would have been more if not for the monthly fee she already pays to her vet.

Other poisonous foods for dogs include chocolate, Christmas cakes, and grapes.