Council investigating after five dogs poisoned in the eastern suburbs

Woollahra Council is investigating after a series of reports of dogs being poisoned in the eastern suburbs, with one pug dead and five others critically ill in the space of a week.

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A two-year-old pug is dead and four other dogs are lucky to be alive after a spate of poisonings in the exclusive suburb of Rose Bay over the past week.

Woollahra Council is looking into the incidents after reports from Sydney Vet and Emergency Specialists, who treated the dogs, that the animals all ingested a similar toxin.

Vet Adrian Simon said the five otherwise healthy canines presented to his surgery with seizures and tremors last week, warning that the dogs have either been purposely baited or all came across the same poisonous substance naturally occurring in the area.

The owners of the pug who died on September 29, he said, are devastated.

A map of the area from vets warning of where the dogs have been poisoned. Picture: Supplied.

“All of the cases have either come from two or three blocks in the area of Rose Bay,” Dr Simon said.

“One of the possibilities is that the dogs are being baited but no one has found any baits yet which is important to note … our advice is not to pick up anything off the ground.

“A nice explanation would be that we won’t see any more cases but at this stage we can’t rule out that something malicious is happening.”

A Woollahra Council spokesman urged anyone with any evidence of dog baiting to contact police.

Rose Bay Beach, where one of the dogs was reportedly poisoned.

“Council rangers have received reports from vets of possible baiting within the area of Salisbury Rd, Plumer Rd, Rose Bay foreshore and Rose Bay Park,” he said.

“In the past fortnight three to five dogs have fallen ill and have been treated by local vets, who have requested council assistance in checking the area.

“Council rangers are patrolling the area and we ask residents and dog walkers in the local area to be vigilant, and if their pets appear to be unwell, please take them to a vet for assessment.”

It follows a spate of dog baiting in Sydney’s inner west with owners being told to avoid parks in the area.

Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne has urged authorities to “throw the book” at whoever is responsible.

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