Mystery surrounds the sudden death of a beloved family dog with fears the dog was poisoned at a local park
- Dog died after eating something in the lake
- Maverick threw up and became ‘wobbly’
- Dog died just 20 minutes after leaving the park
A dog owner has been left distraught after the sudden death of her beloved pup Maverick during a routine walk at her local park.
Sheree Hastie had been walking the two-year-old dog at Oxenford Lake on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Friday when she started behaving strangely.
As his concerned owner quickly loaded him into her car, Maverick began vomiting and became “wobbly” and weak in the knees.
Ms Hastie desperately tried to get her dog treated for the mysterious illness, but frustratingly, there were no clinics open at the time.
She said Maverick was ‘gone’ when he pulled into her driveway, just 20 minutes after they left the popular walking spot.
“I’m just trying to understand how or why it happened,” he said. 7News.
Sheree Hastie (pictured) had been walking her dog Maverick at Oxenford Lake on the Gold Coast on Friday when she started behaving strangely.
Ms. Hastie desperately tried to get Maverick (pictured) to the vet for treatment for the mystery illness but frustratingly, there were no clinics open.
Ms. Hastie smelled something “fishy” in the dog’s vomit and saw some “thick little bones” that made her think Maverick had ingested something poisonous.
“(It was) a very toxic thing for him to go through so quickly,” he said.
However, new information since the pup’s sudden death has led her to believe that Maverick was not deliberately ‘baited’.
Cases of dog harassment in parks across Australia have become common in recent years, with Sydney dog owners going on high alert last month.
The bait, usually rat poison, is wrapped in food to attract dogs and hide the smell and taste of the poison.
Dogs may experience lethargy, shortness of breath, tremors or seizures, or excessive panting or drooling if they are fattened.
Without an anecdote, dogs can die 1-2 hours after being poisoned.
Ms. Hastie said her other dogs, Frankie and Ellie, weren’t playing like usual after the loss of their brother Maverick.
Ms. Hastie has heard of other dogs getting sick after visiting Oxenford Lake (pictured) with a second dog exhibiting the same symptoms as Maverick during a walk on Sunday.
She’s heard of other dogs getting sick after visiting Oxenford Lake, and a second dog showed the same symptoms as her dog during a walk on Sunday.
Unlike Maverick, the other dog survived.
The Gold Coast Council said a sign advising dog owners to keep their animals on a leash at the lake is already in place, with others soon to be posted in the area.
Ms. Hastie has warned other dog lovers to always keep an eye out for their beloved animals after Maverick’s devastating loss.
“I don’t want anyone else to go through what we’ve been through this week,” the distraught owner said.
