Border collie falls victim to dog baiting in Hastings

A dog owner is furious after his beloved border collie fell victim to a cruel baiter, who scattered dozens of pellets of pastry and pasta laced with rat poison around a Mornington Peninsula suburb.

Anzac the dog was poisoned by a dog baiter in Hastings.

A Mornington Peninsula dog owner is furious after his beloved border collie fell victim to poison baits.

Police are appealing for witnesses after pellets of pastry laced with rat poison were found strewn in Hastings several times since Wednesday.

Jose Zandveld rushed his 13-year-old border collie called Anzac to the vet after he ate some of about 30 pellets at the corner of Lewis St and Tara Drive on Wednesday.

The vet induced vomiting.

POISONED MINCE THROWN OVER FENCE IN MT MARTHA

DOG DIES AFTER BAITING INCIDENT

“The poor old boy has had quite the ordeal,” he said.

“It looked like bread scattered on the ground, until I picked it up and saw some iridescent green in the middle.”

One of the poisoned pastry pellets.

Mr Zandveld said he was “angry and stressed” as a result of the dog baiting.

“I haven’t slept much in the last week because I am worried about Anzac,” he said.

“‘Why’ and ‘who’ keeps going through my head. I don’t know why you would do that, I want an explanation.”

Mr Zandveld is $1500 out of pocket due to vet bills, medication and days off work caring for Anzac, who has become anxious as a result of the ­incident.

The area in Hastings where the laced food was spread. Pictures: 3AW

“Anzac is a beautiful old soul, everyone in the neighbourhood knows him and kids come and pat him,” he said.

“I would be gutted if something happened to Anzac.

“I do not know how you could even explain that grief, it would just be terrible.

DOG DIES AFTER BAITING INCIDENT

“To lose a pet is one thing but losing it to this — they suffer and it is painful, it would be heartbreaking. If (the culprits) are caught, I want an explanation and reimbursement.”

Mr Zandveld said he also found baits in the same area on Friday.

Another set of baits, on Tara Drive between Isis Place and Lewis St, were reported to police yesterday morning. A man walking his dog found pasta laced with what appeared to be rat poison on the nature strip.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said pet ­owners in the area were asked to be vigilant and report unusual behaviour or suspicious substances.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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