People Are Poisoning Innocent Dogs and It Must Be Stopped!

Sunshine Coast beachgoers beware, someone’s trying to poison your dog. Five dogs have died and it is suspected foul play might be involved.

Pet owners on the Sunshine Coast are told to remain vigilant after a number of dogs are suspected to have been poisoned at Point Cartwright and Buddina beach area.

The Sunshine Coast Council received reports from a local vet about five dogs experiencing symptoms of poisoning after visiting Point Cartwright and Buddina beach. The dogs had to be put down.

Among the casualties was a beagle named Billy.

Val and Peter Logan were proud owners of Billy. On Sunday afternoon, they decided to take Billy on a walk near beach access 210. He returned from the walk in a good mood. It wasn’t until about half an hour after he returned home that he started vomiting.

The concerned couple took Billy to the emergency vet, where they placed him in the dog’s version of an ICU. However, that wasn’t enough to save him.

The two year-old Beagle passed away that evening.

Mrs Logan remembers Billy fondly. “He was a beautiful dog… and we were so lucky to have him,” she said.

Another victim was Sophie, a Staffy-cross that was on an adoption trial by Silver Lining Pet Rescue. Sophie’s owner took her on a walk along Buddina beach on Friday afternoon, and Sophie became unwell later that night.

Silver Lining Pet Rescue’s Denise Bettany said that Sophie’s new owner was “absolutely devastated.”

“He made sure that Sophie didn’t grab anything she shouldn’t have,” said Ms Bettany. “However, he probably wouldn’t have paid attention to normal behaviours, such as having a drink.”

The result of a ‘gang’ war?

All five of the suspected poisoning occurred in the popular Point Cartwright area. The reserve allows dogs to be off-leash between the hours of 4pm and 8am. Some members of the local Bow Wow Coast Facebook group suspect that the communal drinking bowls in the park have been contaminated.

Vivienne Williams, a member of the Facebook group, said there had been bad blood between beach-going dog owners and a group of local residents who wish to ban dogs from the reserve.

Ms Williams also said there have been chocolates left around the steps to the beach in recent months. And we all know that chocolate is deadly for dogs. (Click here to find out other common foods that are deadly for your dog)

“We’ve had dog owners who have been filmed, photographed, and abused by others,” Ms Williams said. “It’s an ongoing fight.”

Authorities are looking into the dog poisonings.

Police have confirmed that they have received numerous reports of incidents and are currently investigating the matter.

The Sunshine Coast Council is urging all dog owners and vets to report any poisoning incidents directly to the police. Additionally, they have also recommended dog owners to keep an eye on their dog at all times.

Dog owners should also contact their vet at the first sign of poisoning without hesitation.

Symptoms of dog poisoning.

The symptoms of dog poisoning will vary depending on the type of poison ingested and the amount consumed. However, some common signs that a dog has been poisoned include:

• Vomiting,
• Diarrhoea,
• Excessive drooling,
• Loss of appetite,
• Weakness,
• Lethargy.

If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately.

But for the dog owners who have tragically lost their pet, they are also looking out for other members of the community. “Think about what happens … if a child came in contact with the poison,” said Mr Barrass, who lost his Golden Labrador Pepper as well. “What if they put their hands in the contaminated bowl and then put their hands in their mouths?”

“What would the repercussions be then?”