A sausage laced with rat poison has been found in a Paradise Point backyard in an attempted dog baiting attack

LOCALS are being urged to check their backyards after a recent dog-baiting attempt. Sausages laced with rat poison are being used to harm or kill beloved family pets.

A sausage was laced with rat poison and thrown over a fence in Paradise Point. Photo: Facebook.

THE RSPCA has warned owners that attempts to poison dogs have become increasingly common after a Paradise Point family’s pet was targeted.

Rat sak pellets were discovered hidden in meat thrown over the fence of a property on Friday afternoon.

The dog’s shocked owner claimed in a Facebook post that her pet was “lucky to be alive” following the incident.

A sausage was laced with rat poison and thrown over a fence in Paradise Point. Picture from Facebook.

Such acts of animal cruelty are an “ongoing issue”, said RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty.

“Sadly, these types of incidents are very common, not just on the Coast but everywhere,” he said.

“Often neighbourhood disputes about dogs barking lead to idiots taking the matter into their own hands.”

Mr Beatty said there were measures owners could take to stop excessive barking issues such as hiring a dog trainer or behaviourist, and providing the dog with extra stimulation during the day.

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However not all baiting acts where caused by neighbours fed up with constant barking.

Mr Beatty’s three-legged dog Tripod was a victim of baiting several years ago despite the fact she did not bark.

“Someone baited all the dogs in the street and police never found out why, so I am speaking from experience when saying it is common,” he said.

In June, dog walkers at the Sun Valley Dog Park at Ashmore found and disposed of some blue pellets — suspected to be rat poison — in the grass near the communal dog water bowl.

There were multiple reports of repeated random dog baiting incidents at the park.

The Brown family were horrified to discover cocktail frankfurts laced with pellets were used in attempt to harm or kill their beloved dogs Marley and Oscar. Picture Mike Batterham

Late last year, the Brown family at Ormeau prevented their dogs from ingesting poison-laced treats in their yard.

The Brown children Danika, 14, Tayla, 12 and Jordan, 14 were horrified to discover frankfurts laced with pellets were used in an attempt to harm or kill their beloved dogs Marley and Oscar.

Pictured at their Ormeau home the Brown children Danika, 14, Tayla, 12, and Jordan, 14, and their dogs Oscar and Marley with sausages laced with rat sak. Picture Mike Batterham.

In May, Tallebudgera local Sarah Draven’s dog went missing from her Valley Drive home.

The pup was eventually returned but it was discovered she had ingested a nonlethal dose of rat poison in a baiting attempt.

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Anyone found guilty of deliberately poisoning a dog could be charged with animal cruelty under the Animal Protection Act, which carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment.

Police were approached for comment but did not respond by deadline.

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Signs and Symptoms of Poisoning in Dogs

Loss of Appetite

Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth.

Vomiting with or without bleeding

Diarrhoea

Loss of co-ordination

Tremors or seizures

Laboured breathing including flared nostrils, extended neck and head and loud breaths

Sensitivity to light

And in extreme cases:

Onset of organ failure

Loss of consciousness

Nonresponsive behaviour