Police and councils issue warnings after spate of pet poisonings in Sydney
Warnings are being issued following a spate of pet poisoning incidents across Sydney’s inner suburbs. Rat poison has been found wrapped in chicken in a popular inner west park and a probe has been launched after the death of several birds.
Inner West
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Pet owners are being warned to be cautious following a spate of attempted poisoning incidents.
Police and councils across Sydney’s inner suburbs have issued warnings with the latest near miss on Tuesday in Enmore Park.
Inner West police took to Facebook on Wednesday after a dog narrowly escaped eating raw chicken laced with rat poison in the park on Tuesday.
It came after the City of Sydney sent a letter to residents on September 27 when several birds were found dead in Harcourt Pde, Rosebery.
An investigation by the Environmental Protection Authority ruled they died from ingesting meat containing insecticide.
Dog owner Alissa McInnes said her Shih tzu-cross-poodle Charlie was playing in Enmore Park about 4.30pm on Tuesday when he ingested the rat poison baits.
Two other dogs also ate the substance, she said, but their conditions are unknown.
After seeing their dogs chewing on something that looked like raw chicken, Ms McInnes said the dog owners “filled many poo bags” with big pieces of poisoned chicken.
She said the chicken had been “placed in a circle” near the off-leash dog area at the park.
“The rat poison was wrapped in the chicken, and the chicken appeared marinated, to be more enticing to dogs maybe … it was really confusing,” Ms McInnes said.
She said the rat poison looked like small green pellets.
The Marrickville resident rushed her beloved 11-year-old pooch Charlie to Sydney Animal Hospital in Stanmore at about 5pm.
Ms McInnes works in the vet industry and knew her response needed to be immediate.
The vet induced vomiting which was the only thing that saved little Charlie.
“I lost sleep over it last night, so distraught at how people could do this,” she said.
On Wednesday morning the Inner West Police Command confirmed it was investigating the incident.
“Please use extreme caution when walking your dogs at the location,” police said in a Facebook post.
“If you suspect your dog has eaten a bait take them to a vet hospital immediately. Do not wait for symtoms to appear.”
An Inner West police spokesman said it was the only report they had received about dog baiting.
“If we don’t know who, then we don’t know why,” the spokesman said.
An Inner West Council spokeswoman said there had been another incident in Peace Park, Leichhardt last month.
Last month City of Sydney rangers found birds including magpies dead in Rosebery.
It was later discovered they had eaten meat laced with the insecticide methomyl.
“The insecticide is toxic to humans and animals if swallowed,” a council spokeswoman said.
“Residents have been advised not to touch affected birds or meat baits.
“They have also been advised to keep companion animals, including cats and dogs, away from any affected birds or meat bait.”
The council is also investigating reports of dog baiting in Sydney Park, St Peters, on Monday.
Sydney Animal Hospital veterinary surgeon Dr Angela Phillips said she has no doubt the baiting was “malicious”.
She said two dogs were also brought in over the weekend after eating dog baits.
Dr Phillips said rat poison stops the blood from clotting, which causes dogs to bleed to death.
Since the poison often takes 12-24 hours to take effect, it’s possible to find your dog has bled internally overnight.
“You could come home to dead pet,” she said.
“If you see your dog eat something in the park and you’re worried about it, we can make it vomit on the spot … and then check the vomit for rat poison.”
It has been a horror year for animal cruelty in NSW, with reports of dog baiting cropping up across Sydney.
A dog passed away after eating contaminated meat at scenic Rushcutters Bay Park in August, Woollahra Council recently confirmed.
On the northern beaches police also issued a warning following a string of attempted poisoning incidents.
There have been reports on the peninsula of people throwing bait into the back yards of dog owners.
There have been 131 animal cruelty complaints made to RSPCA NSW since January 2018, roughly 40 reports per month.
If sick or injured birds are found, residents can contact the RSPCA on 1300 278 3589.
Report suspicious activity to police, triple-0.
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