Dog owners on high alert after pooch poisoning at Aberfeldie Park

Dogs are being poisoned with laced meat left at a popular northwest Melbourne dog park. One devastated owner is urging others to be on high alert after her beloved Staffy nearly died.

Beloved dog Storm needed surgery after eating poisoned dog meat at Aberfeldie Park last week. Picture: Supplied

Pet owners are being warned to lookout for poison-laced meat at a popular northwest Melbourne dog park, after one woman’s beloved Staffy nearly died.

A local dog club says it’s aware of two poisoned meat incidents at Aberfeldie Park, with the latest last week leaving Kara Aloi’s two-year-old dog Storm needing two rounds of surgery.

“Devastating is putting it very lightly. It was traumatic,” the woman told the Herald Sun.

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Storm needed surgery after eating poisoned dog meat at the popular Aberfeldie Park last week. Picture: Supplied

She said a vet confirmed Storm ingested rat poison after the dog became progressively sicker over two days following a walk to the park.

The housemate who took the Staffy to the park did not see her eat anything but Ms Aloi said the vet “knew instantly” that it was rat poison.

“They said they see it all the time.”

Storm underwent two rounds of surgery for bleeding in her heart and lungs as the poison took hold.

“They pretty much didn't think she was going to make it and we were prepared for her to be lost,” Ms Aloi said.

“It was very, very confronting.”

A crowd-funding campaign has been launched to help cover Storm’s treatment costs, which Ms Aloi said had topped $7000.

The Northern Obedience Dog Club on Facebook said it had been notified of two dogs eating red-coloured rat poison hidden in meat at the park, where the club is based.

“The Council have been notified of the situation, the response is that ‘someone is leaving meat out for the magpies’,” the club wrote on Facebook this week.

The Aberfeldie Dog Park Facebook group has also tried to raise awareness of Storm’s plight, writing on the weekend that “one of our beloved dogs is currently in surgery with internal bleeding and fluid around the heart”.

They said the dog’s owner did not take their pooch anywhere but Aberfeldie Park and Storm “fell lethargic and began to vomit” after last week’s walk.

“Please be aware of your dog at all times, the group said.

Pet dog Storm was left fighting for life after eating poisoned meat at the northwest Melbourne park. Picture: Facebook

The Aberfeldie Dog Park said this was found at the park last year. Picture: Facebook

Moonee Valley City Council’s chief executive, Bryan Lancaster, confirmed they were investigating a report of a dog poisoned at Aberfeldie Park.

“We’ve been carrying out regular patrols of the park and the surrounding area and haven’t found any evidence of baiting,” he said in a statement.

He added the RSPCA has been notified and residents warned about the issue, with homes in the area letterboxed and signage put up around the park.

“We’re aware there was a second incident of dog baiting at the park some months ago, however we weren’t informed of it at the time,” Mr Lancaster said.

Anyone with information should contact the council, RSPCA or police.