Neighbour’s shocking threats to Perth dog owner
The RSPCA has issued a warning to the public about dog baiting after a shocking letter was sent to a West Australian pet owner.
The organisation’s WA branch has shared the handwritten letter, which warns the dog owner that the anonymous author “will poison” their pet.
“You have NO idea how close we are to baiting your dog,” the scrawled note reads.
“You are the only people in the street who allow their dog to bark, let alone howl. It’s a horrible noise.”
The message goes on to make a number of specific threats.
“One more morning like today and we will poison it. If we don’t do it, our neighbours will,” the anonymous letter writer says.
The disturbing letter follows a spate of baiting incidents in Perth this month.
According to RSPCA WA, there have been five separate baiting incidents since early September, with one dog found bleeding to death by its owner in the backyard after eating poison thrown over the garden fence. The dog had to be euthanised.
The RSPCA took to Facebook to warn anyone thinking of harming an animal.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Amanda Swift reminded that baiting an animal was a serious criminal offence.
“The amount of suffering caused by baiting is severe, and those responsible will face significant penalties if caught,” Ms Swift said.
“Causing deliberate harm to an animal is not a solution. Even if the animal is the cause of the neighbourly dispute, it is not to blame and shouldn’t be punished in such a vicious and cruel way.
“There are other ways to resolve problems and baiting should never be an option.”
Ms Swift urged pet owners to “do what they can” to prevent their pet becoming a target and to take action to improve their pet’s behaviour if it was causing a genuine problem for neighbours.
According to the Animal Welfare Act, intentionally or recklessly poisoning an animal is an offence that could attract penalties of up to $50,000 and five years in prison.
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