An elderly pensioner has been identified as the man responsible for poisoning two pet dogs, but his victims believe his offending is ''just the tip of the iceberg''.
The 83-year-old man, who cannot be named, was dealt with pre-charge by restorative justice after a Mosgiel family's dog was killed with slug bait earlier this year, Sergeant Kevin Davidson said.
Police could not comment on the reasons for the matter being dealt with by restorative justice, but he would not face court.
The investigation revealed another family's dog from a nearby house was poisoned almost five years ago.
However, no action could be taken against the man because the statute of limitations had expired, Sgt Davidson said.
One of the offender's victims, Gemma Jenkins, whose pet dog Meg was poisoned in August, said the man had shown no remorse.
The family would have preferred the man to be charged, but had resigned themselves to accepting restorative justice.
''I just want to send the perpetrator a clear message that this is not OK and you can't just get away with killing our dog,'' she said.
The man had come to apologise to her husband, but ''ended up calling him a smart-arse''.
''He's not remorseful at all.''
The poisoning was revealed when Meg started acting strangely and developed mouth abscesses and ulcers.
A veterinarian discovered slug bait in Meg after she died.
''He befriended Meg, so it's sickening to know he later fed her poisoned meat,'' Mrs Jenkins said.
''It's concerning to think it could happen again.''
Sgt Davidson said the man admitted poisoning Meg with slug bait concealed in schnitzel, which he fed to the dog when it was on his property.
He also admitted killing another family's dog almost five years ago. Shirley Rackley's dog also died at the hands of the man and the family had feared at the time it might have been poison they had introduced to their household.
''With what happened to Meg, I didn't really want to believe [he] was capable of doing that, but he hated our dog,'' Mrs Rackley said.
''He used to come over to our place when it suited him, but he was scared of our dog so he did it because it didn't suit his lifestyle.
''I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg.''
She did not believe the deaths were connected to the man's age, saying ''I think he's just a really evil man''.
''It was such a horrible death - both of them, to see an animal suffering like that and he just gets away with it,'' she said''He gets to do it again if he wants to.''
The inability of police to take action over her dog's death had made it harder.
''It's a really horrible, unresolved thing.''
Both women said other residents in the area were concerned the man might be linked to other pets' deaths. However, there was no evidence to prove it.
Sgt Davidson said other dog owners should have no reason to fear for the safety or health of their pets.
''It appears it was deliberate and specific,'' he said.
