One dog dead, another poisoned in sickening southeast baiting attacks
A Carrum Downs dog owner left “devastated” when her beloved dog died from a suspected baiting last year has suffered another blow after her new puppy was poisoned this week. And worried vets have urged other pet owners to be vigilant.
South East
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A dog lover has been left heartbroken after one of her pets died and another was poisoned following a series of targeted dog baiting attacks at Carrum Downs.
The Tyntynder Dr resident, who did not want to be named, said she is “totally devastated” and urged the attacker to leave her alone after nearly losing a second pet to rat bait poisoning in just three months.
The woman told the Leader she found pieces of rat bait in her back garden seven times since her nine-year-old Tenterfield dog Rufus was killed in November last year.
And on Tuesday she took her 12 week old puppy Jesse, of the same breed, to Seaford Veterinary Hospital with similar symptoms to Rufus.
“I don’t even know how to deal with this situation, it’s horrible,” the woman, aged 64, said.
“I’ve been finding the rat bait you find at Bunnings in chunks in my backyard … I don’t understand why the person is doing it.
“My other dog — Jack Russell Holly — is too old to bark, and Jesse is too young to know what’s going on … I just want this to stop.”
The retired factory worker said her dogs are kept inside with her “90 per cent of the time” and did not bark.
She says she has never experienced issues with neighbours but suspected the culprit lived nearby.
Staff at Seaford Veterinary Hospital warned dog owners in the area to “be vigilant” after samples taken from the dog’s blood confirmed it was suffering from rodenticide toxicity.
“Tragically one of (the owner’s) much loved little dogs died of this in November despite apparently having absolutely no access to poison of any kind either in the home or when out and about,” they said on social media.
“In mid February two baits were thrown over her fence which were found when her new puppy was chewing on one, and blood tests confirmed her puppy ingested a potentially fatal dose within the last few days.
“This time we were lucky and treatment was started before he developed serious symptoms.”
The vet team said it was “seriously worried” about another attack and urged pet owners to contact their vet immediately if they suspect their dog has eaten bait or looks unwell.
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The shocking attacks come after suspected dog bait nearly claimed the life of a pup and was found sprinkled across reserves in Seaford, Chelsea and Aspendale Gardens last year.
And in another distressing incident, a skeletal-thin dog sparked an RSPCA probe after he was found rummaging through a front yard in Seaford.
More than 300 reports of animal cruelty made in the City of Frankston between 2018-19,
behind the Hume council area which had 410 and Casey the highest on 561.
RSPCA was contacted for comment.