RICE LAKE — Authorities in northeastern Minnesota said there is no evidence that someone is poisoning dogs in Rice Lake.

St. Louis County sheriff’s Sgt. Wade Rasch spoke to about a dozen people at the Rice Lake City Council meeting Monday night. Rasch said deputies are not looking for “a mean, suspicious dude who is poisoning our pets.”

According to a press release, Rasch said one dog died unexpectedly and three others got sick but are recovering. He said there is no evidence to point to someone deliberately poisoning animals.

The sheriff’s office earlier said it has received several reports in the past month of dogs becoming sick without a clear reason.