A Footscray resident who believes her family’s pet dog was deliberately killed is warning pet owners to take extra care when walking their pets.
Sonia Lear said her mother was walking 10-year-old labrador Sputnik on Carmichael Street in West Footscray last Monday when he ate what appeared to be a hamburger left on the nature strip.
Sputnik collapsed and was rushed to a vet, who was certain the dog was poisoned.
“He was very distressed and showing all the signs of severe poisoning. There was nothing the vet could do for him,” Ms Lear said.
She reported the death to the police but was told unless there was a clear suspect there was little they could do.
She said the culprit would have the satisfaction of feeling they had succeeded if people avoided walking their dogs on the street. But she also believed it wasn’t worth the risk.
“I had to explain to my three children their dog isn’t coming home. I really don’t understand what kind of psychopath would bait and poison someone’s pet.
“Sputnik was the friendliest dog, everyone loved him and there was absolutely no reason for anyone to want to kill him.”
Ms Lear discovered that pets of other residents in surrounding streets have also suddenly fallen ill or died.
In 2009, a labrador-cross was killed and several dogs fell ill from poison mixed in meat and grain left on the same street. More than 20 birds were also killed.
RSPCA’s David Fitzgerald said investigation would require proof that what the dog had eaten was laced with poison and put there deliberately.
» Has your pet fallen ill after walking in the area? Details to 8318 5789.
