Council officers investigate Gold Coast dog park: Two pets died after playing there last week

COUNCIL officers are investigating a Labrador dog park for “suspicious” activity after the deaths of two dogs last week.

Georgina Holliday with her partner Vaughn Page at Musgrave Dog Park. Georgina believes her younger dog, one-year-old Kiko who died on Wednesday was poisoned at the park. Picture: Jerad Williams.

GOLD Coast council officers are investigating a Labrador dog park for “suspicious” activity after the deaths of two dogs last week.

In seemingly unrelated cases, seven-year-old Blue and one-year-old Kiko died minutes after playing near the pond at the Musgrave Dog Park last week, prompting other concerned dog owners to raise the alarm.

Both animals were found by their owners fighting for their lives near the pond at the popular Labrador park but later died, despite being treated by veterinarians.

Dog owner Storm Bailey said her three-year-old dog Billie had been sick for two days after a trip to the park last week.

The Helensvale animal lover said she became suspicious after seeing the reports of deaths on Facebook on the weekend.

“Billie usually just has a little sniff but this time she was really sticking her nose into the grass (near the pond),” she said.

“I called her away but that night she had the runs and vomited and she didn’t eat for two days.

“I’m thinking it’s whatever it was she was having a poke around at in the grass.”

Council’s Community Services Committee chairman Bob La Castra said in 19 years as a councillor he had never known of a similar spate of dog deaths.

“It’s incredibly disturbing and incredibly upsetting,” he said.

“All I’m aware of is that they are investigating and they are waiting to find out the cause of death.

“If it was something that council had done – one would assume that we wouldn’t be doing something or using a product we hadn’t used before.

“It does seem odd.

“Is it something that someone else has put in the park?

“I don’t know.”

Area councillor Dawn Crichlow said council officers had tested the water in the pond in case it was contaminated.

A council spokesman said officers were working with the RSPCA and would carry out further testing once they discovered the cause of the deaths.

“Animal Management officers have conducted patrols of the park since these reports were made and are awaiting confirmation of cause of death,” she said.

“Any city staff tasked with working in this park have also been advised to report any suspicious behaviour or items.

“We remind animal owners to be vigilant when walking their dogs.”

The park remains open to the public.