Dogs in California die due to an unknown cause

VENICE, Calif. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Dogs in Venice, California are becoming seriously sick, sometimes dying, and no one knows why.

Neighbors say, in the last 10 days, six dogs have died and more than a dozen more have fallen ill without a clear cause.

Fliers reading "Dog Health Alert" are being posted around the area. They list symptoms include vomiting, sudden weakness, seizures and cardiac arrest.

Some dog owners have stopped walking their dogs along the canals.

"It is scary. It is serious and we're asking everyone in the community to be very very vigilant and to the health authorities to take action as soon as possible so we can figure out what is going on with our dogs," said Ramon Goni, a dog owner.

No one has been able to determine a cause, but neighbors believe dogs may be coming into contact with something toxic in the canals.