Bondi dog baiting: Waverley Council investigates possible incident

A possible dog baiting incident in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has sparked a council investigation, with canine owners told to stay vigilant and keep their dogs on their leads.

The threat of dog poisoning could be on the rise in the eastern suburbs, with an investigation launched into a possible baiting incident.

Waverley Council warned dog owners to stay vigilant, keep their pups on a lead and be aware of what they are eating after being made aware of a possible dog baiting on Ocean St, near the Bondi Road Post Office.

Dog baiting involves setting poison baits for dogs in an appealing treat to find and eat, leading to illness and even death for the animal.

While the practice is prohibited under the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, it unfortunately does occur with the most common cases arising from neighbourhood disputes around barking and other complaints.

Baits are commonly set using rat poison, however many other toxins have been seen in recent cases, including recreational drugs used by humans and sharp objects like pins or razors.

Snail and rat baits – which are often used – impact an animals nervous system, causing symptoms like weakness and lethargy, breathing difficulty, tremors or convulsions and vomiting.

Waverley Council, which covers the suburbs of Bondi, Bronte, and Tamarama as well as parts of Dover Heights and Rose Bay, encouraged residents to report and suspicious activity to NSW Police.

RSPCA NSW spokesman Kieran Watson said while dog baiting was not common it was a “serious concern”.

“We don’t know what’s in the minds people who commit animal cruelty,” Mr Watson said.

Bondi Rd Post Office where the potential dog poisoning may have occurred.

He said people should be telling their local council and the RSPCA when they suspect a poisoning had occurred as there were “serious penalties” for offenders.

This included fines of up to $22,000 and jail time of up to two years under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

A Waverley Council spokeswoman said it was investigating the possible dog poisoning after the dog sadly passed away following returning home from being taken for a walk in the area by its owner on September 15.

Waverley Park requires dogs to remain on leashes, however there are several parks nearby that allow dogs off-leash. Picture: Romina Zumbo Maslinkoski

“Rangers visited the area with the owner who remembers seeing the dog eat something in or near a pile of leaves under a tree on Ocean Street,” the spokeswoman said.

“It is not known whether this is related to the cause of death. Rangers did find two dead pigeons in the area.”

The spokeswoman said council had put signage up in the area as well as notifying local vets.