A joint investigation has been launched into a spate of dog deaths and illnesses to determine if they were caused by intentional, accidental or environmental poisoning.
Police, the RSPCA and Sunshine Coast Council are working together to uncover the cause of a number of dogs being struck down after walking in the same area.
It comes as Sunshine Coast News understands early tests did not appear to indicate battery acid or brake fluid had been used as the poison as some people had suggested on social media.
If deliberate, the toxin may in fact be something fairly specific, suggesting the person went to some trouble to do it.
Sunshine Coast Council said it was emptying and sanitising all dog water bowls in the area as a precaution to reduce the risk of animals drinking possibly comminated water.
“We are also working to remove any loose water bowls and seal any fixed bowls to prevent access,” said a council spokesperson.
As Sunshine Coast News reported on Wednesday, the pets that fell ill had all been walked within the previous 12 hours around Buddina, Minyama, Point Cartwright and La Balsa.
They were referred by local vets to North Coast Veterinary and Emergency Critical Care which raised the alarm about the worrying trend.
In a 72-hour period alone five dogs were rushed to the emergency vet, two of which died and one was euthanised, but cases have been reported since.
People were surmising on social media that a poison may have been added to the communal drinking bowls.
The RSPCA confirmed it was taking the reports seriously.
“RSPCA Inspectors are working with QPS and Council Officers. This is a current priority investigation with information being updated regularly,” said a spokesperson.
“The focus of the investigation is to attempt to locate the cause of recent spate of poisoning on the Sunshine Coast to determine if origin was intentional, accidental or environmental.”
One grieving dog owner who would take his puppy Yindi down the beach at Warana most mornings was Dusty Sammon.
Dusty told Seven News his pooch was having a great time on Wednesday morning, sniffing and playing with other dogs, but then she became suddenly unwell.
“We got home at about…8 o’clock and she just started vomiting and became really ill very quickly,” he said.
“By about 10.30 we had her at the vet, and she was vomiting and diarrhea non-stop.
“They weren’t too sure, thought maybe she’s just eaten something she shouldn’t have. Gave her some meds and IV fluids, and from there just went downhill.
“Each day got worse and worse, she was spending the whole day at the vet on IV.
“Saturday afternoon they called me and said the best option was to let her go.
“Despite their best efforts and tests and medications and antibiotics, nothing was improving and turned into acute renal failure.”
Another owner Tara Clegg, who lost her cattle dog Max, said her dog drank from the water bowl at the old gate 13 access.
“He was walked from the old gate 10 access to the old gate 13 access last Tuesday evening 6:30-7:30pm,” she said.
“We are unsure if he ate something on the beach but he drank out of the water bowl at the old gate 13 access.
“By Wednesday morning he was at the vet and by Friday afternoon we had to put him to sleep. Such a horrific thing, thinking of all the other families going through this with there pups.”
Sunshine Coast residents who are living in the US offered to donate a reward to “find this horrible person”.
“We live in America and are moving back in September, with our three dogs. We are going to be moving very close to where these poor fur babies have been poisoned,” Annie and Brad Cornish told SCN.
“We would be devastated if this happened to us.”
Sunshine Coast Council expressed its condolences to community members who had lost their beloved pets.
“While the exact cause of the poisionings is still unclear, council is assisting the Queensland Police Service and RSPCA Queensland in the investigation,” a spokesperson said.
If you believe your dog has been affected that this matter is reported to the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL, Policelink on 131 444, or at your local station.
