Mount Pleasant dog baiting fears after ex-guide dog dies

A shattered Mount Pleasant couple say at least four other dogs may have fallen victim to the same poison.

A retired guide dog is the latest victim in a string of poisonings in the Barossa region, locals say.

Mount Pleasant couple Colleen and Les Modra said they woke to find their nine-year-old Labrador Reggie collapsed on the floor on Sunday.

“She usually does her happy dance so seeing her collapse really isn’t her,” Ms Modra said.

After rushing her to the vet, Reggie returned home still unwell and had to be taken back on Monday. She died on Wednesday morning.

Les Modra with Reggie the labrador. Picture: supplied

Les Modra with Reggie the Labrador. Picture: supplied

Her devastated owners say news of four other dog baiting cases in their Mt Pleasant street in the last 12 months have emerged since Reggie’s death.

“It appears to be rat bait, and that they all were the same type,” Mr Modra said.

The puppy educators said they have returned their trainee RSB puppy Remi to the organisation for “fear of further attacks” and will not train other puppies until the issue is resolved.

“We were just too anxious to have her on the property,” Ms Modra said.

Retired Royal Society of the Blind dog and breeder Reggie died from suspected baiting. Picture: Go Fund Me

Nearby Birdwood Veterinary Clinic confirmed there had been a rise in dog baitings in the Mt Pleasant area.

While Barossa Council’s Mayor Bim Lange said no incidents have been reported to him, but he urged victims to contact the council.

“We’re not aware of any incidents in that area but what needs to happen is if it’s reported to our office were refer it straight on to the police or the RSPCA,” Mr Lange said.

“We take a very dim view to anything associated with baiting of pets and in this circumstance the tragic loss … I’m sad of any pet, especially a guide dog.

“If this is happening over there, we don’t tolerate that at all, the normal process is it becomes a police matter.”

Reggie was a Royal Society for the Blind guide dog who was used for breeding from age two, when Colleen and Les took her into their care.

“After 19 puppies she was retired and became our dog,” Ms Modra said.

Colleen and Les Modra with Reggie, and one of her litters. Picture: supplied

“She was extremely well-trained and behaved and a friend of many at Mount Pleasant Farmers Market.”

Reggie accompanied the couple to their fortnightly stall at the market where they hosted a plant stall.

”It was just a front for a petting zoo … she’d come out and wag her tail and let people pat her,” Mr Modra said.

“She was very patient, she’d come out with us fishing on the boat and in the caravan on holiday,” Ms Modra said.

The couple have set up a fundraiser to assist other instances of dog baiting in the area to assist in their vet bills, and raised nearly $2000 in 24 hours.

“Hopefully we can assist the vet with considerable sum (to use at his discretion) to cover the bills of any other dogs that have been baited,” Ms Modra said.

“Any funds remaining after two years will be donated to the RSB.”

“Our main aim really was for people on a limited budged like us, to give them some assistance if they were going through the same situation,” Mr Modra said.

Donate to the fundraiser here