RSPCA say they have seen a surge in dog baiting incidents on the Gold Coast
Dog baiting incidents have surged on the Gold Coast and the RSPCA have shared the shocking reason which leads to the horrifying act.
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This should make us all feel sick as a dog.
As the population of the city swells, so too does the number of our dogs … and the number of complaints about dogs.
And the consequences of these disputes can turn deadly.
The latest data from Gold Coast City Council shows that 3207 noise complaints were received over the past 12 months, almost nine complaints a day, with most concerning barking dogs.
The top five suburbs for noise nuisance complaints were Coomera, Pimpama, Varsity Lakes, Robina and Southport and the City issued 707 animal management infringements over this period, with many relating to noise complaints – but it seems that’s not enough for some neighbours.
According to the RSPCA, most cases of dog baiting arise following neighbourhood disputes over barking.
This is becoming an increasing problem given not only the number of dogs now living in the city, which council estimates at about 141,000, but the close quarters in which we all reside.
With density increasing, duplexes and townhouses on the rise and pet bans prohibited in apartment buildings, everyone is now entitled to own a furry friend.
It was an option that many decided to exercise during the work-from-home days of Covid, but with most workers returning back to the office, many of these pandemic pets have struggled to adapt to the change – and they can be vocal about their displeasure.
The problem is that even if a dog owner knows their animal has a barking problem, it can be very difficult to do something about it – and it is rarely a quick fix.
Animal Welfare League Queensland says incessant barking is one of the main reasons owners gave up their animals to the organisation.
If a neighbour lodges a complaint about a barking dog to the council, the owner is given two weeks to solve the noise problem.
If the problem continues, the neighbour can complete a Noise Nuisance Record Sheet and send it to council, who will then investigate the problem to decide whether a nuisance exists.
If a noise nuisance is confirmed, council may serve a notice requiring the owner to stop the issue within a reasonable timeframe. If the noise nuisance does not stop, council can issue up to two fines and then may seize the animal or begin legal action if the problem still persists.
It’s a fair – but lengthy – process. And patience is thin these days.
Which is perhaps why there has been a spate of suspected dog baiting cases lately.
My own vet – shout-out to VetLove – said, while they can’t confirm intentional baiting, there have been a number of cases lately that did look suspicious.
One such case was posted on the Mermaid community Facebook page, with a member stating she took her dog to VetLove after it became ill with acute vomiting and diarrhoea and was hospitalised for two days.
“Please keep your dogs safe, we have had a suspected dog baiting,” she said.
“We do have our suspicions of this very, very low act. The vet is saying poison of some description and we are lucky he is a bigger dog as a smaller dog would not have survived.”
What was even more concerning was the comments it sparked:
“Our dog had the same symptoms about a month ago from nothing. Same thing, she was close to dead. We have no idea how she got it,” said one Miami resident.
“Ours had the same symptoms last sat night. Spent overnight at the emergency vet,” said another.
“My beautiful dog died at Christmas from rat-bait poisoning, and my neighbour’s dog passed away from it as well,” added a Mermaid resident.
Signs that a dog has been baited include lethargy, discoloured urine, vomiting or diarrhoea, breathing difficulty, seizures or tremors. If there is any suspicion, take your dog to the vet immediately.
Obviously baiting incidents are at the extreme end of dog disputes, but as our human and animal populations continue to grow, so too will these issues.
While speaking face-to-face with a neighbour might seem the most awkward of responses, especially given the chronically online nature of our lives, it really is one of the best ways to resolve these issues.
It’s not that a polite human chat will stop the barking, but understanding the other person’s perspective does create empathy, which goes a long way in extending patience.
And in the meantime, invest in some earplugs. Because with the population tipped to hit a million before too long, we have to find a way to live not just with each other, but with each other’s furry best friend.
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Originally published as RSPCA say they have seen a surge in dog baiting incidents on the Gold Coast
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