Dog dies after suspected Dicky Beach water bowl poisoning

Dog owners are being warned to keep an eye on what water their pets drink as reports of a spate of mysterious deaths from potential poisonings at a popular beach come to light.

Sunshine Coast pet owners are being warned to be vigilant and check what water their animals are drinking after a spate of suspected mysterious poisonings at a popular beach.

Warnings about contaminated public water bowls in Dicky Beach, Caloundra, have surfaced on social media, on multiple community boards and dog owner pages

According to the posts, at least two dogs have died from “acute kidney failure” last week after drinking from those bowls.

The post stated a vet suspected poison added to a water bowl, as they had treated another dog two weeks previously that had died of the same cause.

It is unclear how many animals were killed, with claims of up to four deaths on social media sites.

Barry and Alison Watson with their dog Ash are concerned with the recent dog poisoning at Dicky Beach in pet public water bowls, Caloundra. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Barry and Alison Watson and their staffy, Ash, from Maleny are regulars at Dicky Beach.

“We wouldn’t let Ash drink from the water bowl, normally not worried about poison, but more the transmission of diseases and things like that,” Mr Watson said.

Ash seemed to take a sudden dislike to the water dish as the poisonings were discussed.

“Usually he gets a drink out of the tap and that’s it.”

Mrs Watson said she was definitely concerned for fellow dog owners and said the community needed an answer to the mystery.

Ross Maxwell and Lynn Murphy, with their dog Benji, were also concerned and said it was “horrific” and could not understand why this would happen.

They were also concerned for families and children being near or using contaminated water.

Ash the staffy enjoying a refreshing drink. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said officers were aware of the reports and had received calls but there was no investigation underway as no complaint had been made.

Ross Maxwell and Lynn Murphy with their dog Benji. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A RSPCA Queensland spokeswoman said the organisation had not received any direct reports about Dicky Beach but were warning all dog owners to be vigilant and ensure they watched their pet so they did not ingest anything of unknown origin.

“In 2022/23 there were a handful of dogs impacted in a similar situation on the Point Cartwright/Buddina area but the cause wasn’t identified despite extensive RSPCA investigation and toxicology reporting also conducted,” she said.

A taped off water bowl at Dicky Beach

The Sunshine Coast Council has cleaned the bowls at Dicky Beach after it was made aware of the potential poisonings.

A dog water dish on Ann Street, Dicky Beach was taped off with the water supply turned off to the tap.

The council spokesman said concerned residents should refer all reports of suspected pet poisoning to the RSPCA Queensland, which was the leading authority for complaints of this nature.