A WILLIAMSTOWN woman has pleaded with anglers to be careful that they don’t hook a dog by accident.
Caroline Ladicana says she nearly lost her best friend Archie, who underwent an emergency operation to remove two hooks he swallowed at Gloucester Reserve.
Her husband realised Archie must have chomped on bait after he spotted fishing line protruding from the dog’s mouth.
“We took him straight to the vet, who took an X-ray of his stomach and saw two hooks,” Ms Ladicana said.
“They said it was fortunate they didn’t get stuck in his throat.
“I almost lost my dog. He’s a member of our family and he could have died.”
It’s understood Archie is not the first dog to have swallowed a hook left behind by careless anglers at this location.
Ms Ladicana said Gloucester Reserve was regarded as a safe area to let dogs roam off leash.
“I think the general public, especially dog owners, need to be aware of this dangerous practice by the fishermen,” she said.
