NSW Vet Sam Kovac likens dog baiters to the ‘Taliban’ as cases skyrocket in state’s central west

A NSW vet, fed up with the number of dogs being baited in the state’s central west, has likened the act to ‘domestic terrorism’ - telling would-be dog baiters they are ‘worse than the Taliban’.

A NSW vet has blasted dog baiters.

Local dog owners in the state’s west are urged to remain vigilant as posts about illegal dog baiting, as a NSW vet compared dog baiter to “terrorists”.

Local dog owner Madeline Harvey said she has been seeing a few posts on Facebook community groups and is “quite worried” about someone baiting her dog.

“I haven’t noticed anything with Ella yet, but I think I would have to be a bit more careful now,” Ms Harvey said.

“I can’t believe anyone would do something like that.”

It comes as prominent NSW vet Sam Kovac hit out at people deliberately harming and distressing animals and their owners.

“They’re worse than the scum of society and should be treated as ‘Domestic Terrorists’ for the deliberate harm, suffering and distress they inflict on society being as bad, if not worse, than (the) Taliban,” Sam Kovac said.

Founder of Southern Cross Vet Dr Sam Kovac. Picture: Supplied

“People who deliberately kill or poison dogs and cats should be locked up in jail as studies and experience has shown that in many cases this behaviour is ‘practising’ before they ‘graduate’ to harming, or killing, humans,” Southern Cross Vet founder Dr Sam Kovac said.

“Severe psychotic illness and drug abuse would have to be underlying reasons for people to bait dogs as no one with a healthy mind could commit such atrocities.

“I have heard cases of people baiting dogs just because they find the dog annoying, or are allergic, others hate dogs because they were bitten by a dog as a child and carry this prejudice through life.”

Meanwhile pet owners are also being urged to be mindful of accidental poisoning.

Dubbo resident Katrina Dunn told The Dubbo News her dog died early Sunday morning after it ate some bait left behind by the previous property owner.

Ms Dunn and her family moved into a property 12km out of Dubbo in January, where the previous owner left bait in the shed he had to deter animals from his land.

She said her dog ate DE-K9, a wild dog bait, which she had no idea had been left behind.

“My dog had sniffed it out and managed to get one before I noticed,” she said.

“Twelve hours later he died a slow and horrible death – it wasn’t until I took them [DE-K9] to the Local Land Services I found out what they were.”

A Dubbo resident posted an image of the bait used on social media platforms to warn others in the area. Photo: Supplied.

A Dubbo resident posted an image of the bait used on social media platforms to warn others in the area. Photo: Supplied.

Ms Dunn said she found her dog struggling and foaming from the mouth at 12.05am on Sunday morning, however she said he was “fine” only two hours earlier.

“Nothing seemed unusual with him until we heard him whining in pain,” she said.

Dubbo resident Madeline Harvey is "concerned" about Ella's safety after seeing posts on social media platforms.

Pet owners are advised to try and induce vomiting if they suspect their animal has consumed any type of poison and get them to a vet straight away.

“A ball of two tablespoons of salt wrapped up in honey on the outside normally does the trick quickly to cause them to vomit up the bait,” leading vet Dr Kovac advised.

“By getting the bait out of the body before it is digested is the best way to avoid life-threatening complications.”