Devastated dog owners have issued an urgent warning after their pets fell ill after drinking from public water bowls laced with rat poison.
Sophie Watkins was walking her three dogs at the popular Hourglass Reserve, in Cooloongup, south of Perth, last Saturday.
Two of his dogs drank water from a public bowl before discovering blue pellets of what appeared to be rat poison nearby.
Watkins quickly rinsed the container to remove the toxic substance and reported the blue pellets to council guards.
She took her golden retrievers to Baldivis Veterinary Hospital and veterinarians discovered the poisonous substance after both dogs vomited.
“It appears that the rat bait did not dissolve in the water and some pellets they ingested reappeared when the emergency vet induced vomiting,” he said. Perth now.
Watkins said it could have been much worse if his pets had consumed the pesticide.
“We were very lucky and we hope no other pup is in a worse situation,” he said.
Jess Cowie’s two Staffordshire Bull Terriers became ill after drinking water from a public dog bowl at Rockingham Dog Beach (one of the dogs is pictured)
Two dogs fell ill after drinking water at Rockingham dog beach, south west of Perth (pictured)
Just hours later, Jess Cowie’s two Staffordshire Bull Terriers became ill after drinking water from a public dog bowl at Rockingham Dog Beach.
‘The vet says it is most likely due to traces of poison. “He’s fine, but he’s still very sick and miserable,” Cowie told Perth Now.
Rockingham City Council Mayor Deb Hamblin said no further incidents have been reported to rangers and patrols would be increased in lieu of incidents.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mayor Hamblin and council for comment.
Intentionally poisoning an animal in Western Australia carries a fine of up to $50,000 or five years in prison, under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.