A Gold Coast family is mourning the loss of their beloved dog and fighting to save another after they were both allegedly poisoned near a children’s playground, in what police believe to be a deliberate act.
Ridgebacks Arlo and his younger sister Mika became violently ill after ingesting suspected poison in bushland behind Rivertree Park in Helensvale.
“The cries were just horrendous. He stopped breathing,” owner Karen Price said.
Her partner desperately tried to save Arlo, performing chest compressions and they rushed him to the vet, but it was too late.
“By the time he got down here, and he opened the tray up, he was gone,” Price said.
It is believed that a trap was set up in the bushland, with the family claiming to have discovered a drill hole in the park.
“How can people be so freaking evil?” Price said.
Arlo’s younger sister Mika was given just a 20 per cent chance of survival, but fortunately she is beating the odds.
“Because what had happened with Arlo, his parents were aware and they raced her straight down. Thankfully, we were able to get a successful outcome,” SASH Vets’ Dr Sarah Purcell said.
It is believed the poison was 1080, typically used in rural areas to control wild animals, but is banned in suburban parks, with police and the RSPCA investigating.
Warning signs have since been put up in the park by the local council.
“If they do ingest anything at a walk, it’s probably best to bring them down,” Purcell advised. “I just want people to be aware of how lethal this is.”
Image: 7News
