The Pearl Beach community is worried about the wellbeing of pets and wildlife following the discovery of numerous baits around the area in recent weeks.
Situated between Brisbane Water National Park and Broken Bay, Pearl Beach is home to a small and caring community, with residents and visitors often seen walking along the beachfront, many with dogs.
On February 8, local cavoodle Minnie took a bait near the amenities block and spent several days at a local veterinary hospital on a drip and in a life-threatening situation.
While Minnie is slowly recovering at home with her owner, Catherine Hyland, following a vet bill in excess of $5,000, many residents are upset.
Hyland said she and Minnie had just arrived at the beach for an early morning walk when the small dog started sniffing around something on the ground.
“She picked it up and ran away with it and by the time I caught up with her she had already eaten some of it, although some pieces were still on the ground,” she said.
“It was brown on the outside but bright blue inside and around the size of a 20 cent piece.
“I knew immediately it wasn’t good so rushed her to the vet at Point Clare, where she vomited up quite a bit.
“The vet told me to keep an eye on her for 48 hours and then take her to the West Gosford animal referral hospital for blood tests.
“Apparently blood tests are best taken 48 hours after ingestion.
“And when I got those results on the spot I was told she could be given a plasma transfusion or given an antidote to see what happened over the next 6-12 hours.
“With her blood levels four times what they should have been I opted for the transfusion and she was in hospital for three days.”
Minnie will be on Vitamin K tablets for another week before being given another blood test and the all-clear.
“At the moment she is housebound- she is not allowed any exercise or play,” Hyland said.
“Whoever did this has no regard for wildlife or even human life.
“These baits were in an area where people sit with their children – a toddler could easily have picked one up.”
Pearl Beach Progress Association president Katrina Stafford gathered a group of concerned locals who inspected the length of the beach as well as other nearby locations following the incident.
“A group of about 25 local residents came together to clean up the beach and other surrounding parkland (with) grave concerns for domestic animals and wildlife,” Stafford said.
“Residents were reporting dead wildlife including birds, snakes and rats.”
Stafford said baits had been found over the past week in several areas, with at least an additional dozen baits found at the clean-up.
The matter has been reported to police and Central Coast Council rangers.
Stafford said baits ranged from blue pellets of Ratsak wrapped in food to red ‘brick’ style rat baits (often used on commercial/industrial premises) which had been chopped up and scattered on the grass and beach area.
“For many residents, particularly older ones live by themselves, their dogs are far more than just pets,” she said.
“A large number of baits was found near a grassed area where many people sit and catch up with friends and neighbours with their dogs by their sides.”
The community has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money to help cover Minnie’s vet’s bills.
Donations can be made at https://gofund.me/c4479fb5.
Terry Collins
That is a serious worry!