Two men arrested on suspicion of poisoning a fracking site guard dog were environmental protesters, MailOnline can reveal.
Police began investigating after Narla, a German Shepherd, became sick and collapsed suddenly.
She had been patrolling a hydraulic fracturing site in Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire where she is believed to have come across a pile of aniseed balls, which are poisonous dogs.
A number of the pellets had been thrown over the fence of the compound.
Narla, a two-year-old German Shepherd, is recovering after she is thought to have ingested aniseed balls
The site, at Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, has been a flash-point for anti-fracking demonstrations and protests
A camp has even be set up by protesters, who are opposed to hydraulic fracturing
The site has been a flash-point for anti-fracking demonstrations in recent months and protesters even set up a camp.
North Yorkshire Police have now confirmed that two people, a 42-year-old man and a 61-year-old man have been arrested.
The 42-year-old was arrested on suspicion of administering a poison to an animal and causing criminal damage to an animal, following the incident on Monday.
And the 61-year-old was arrested on a bus at Tadcaster Bus Station at 2.50pm on suspicion of causing criminal damage to an animal.
MailOnline understands that both the men were anti-fracking protesters.
The men were arrested after police searched a nearby caravan in Kirby Misperton.
The 42-year-old was arrested on suspicion of administering a poison to an animal and causing criminal damage to an animal, following the incident on Monday.
Derek Laird, Managing Director of Next Level Security Services, which is Third Energy’s security services and logistics provider at the Kirby Misperton site commented, said he was ‘particularly disturbed’ by the incident
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said today: ‘The dog received treatment at a vet and is recovering well.
‘The pellets retrieved from the ground at Kirby Misperton are suspected to be aniseed balls – enquiries are still ongoing.
‘Two men arrested in connection with the incident remain on bail as enquiries continue.’
Derek Laird, Managing Director of Next Level Security Services, which is Third Energy’s security services and logistics provider at the Kirby Misperton site commented, said he was ‘particularly disturbed’ by the incident.
He added: ‘NLSS has been working for Third Energy for nine months.
‘Our responsibility is to keep what is a working gas site secure and also to protect the safety of employees and contractors.
‘I am particularly disturbed by a recent incident. On the January 8 one of our dogs, Narla, a two year old German Shepherd suddenly became very ill.
‘This dog could have died and it is only thanks to the skill of the veterinary staff that she is alive today. Understandably this is an extremely upsetting time for her handler, Adam, who has had Narla since she was a puppy.’