What happens to Pinto?

Pinto was poisoned.

Lila had come to stand behind them, crying. “He has been poisoned,’ she wept. ‘He suddenly fell ill — started vomiting here in front of the house — blood — there was blood in the vomit — and then he fell down and died. It is poison, I know — I know,’ she wailed, both in sorrow and in fear.

‘Who would poison Pinto?’ Hari asked, bewildered, flinging down the piece of ice in order to touch the dog’s wet, matted fur and try to feel some breath, some life left in the body.