The heartbroken owner of two dogs killed by suspected dog baiting has issued a plea for residents to keep their pets inside for fear of a serial baiter in the Delacombe area.
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John Daniels says he believes there may have been dozens of suspected baiting incidents in the last few years in Delacombe and surrounding suburbs, with many neighbours telling him since his dogs were killed that they have also been victims.
Mr Daniels saw his two Jack Russell’s die on July 10 from what he believes was 1080 poison laced in meat which was thrown into his backyard.
He said autopsy results had shown both dogs had ingested some form of poison in meat in the moments before their deaths.
A similar incident is understood to have happened at Easter, while in January bread laced with rat poison and snail bait was thrown into a yard in Sebastopol with two dogs narrowly avoiding ingesting it.
Mr Daniels said his family would only get another dog if they moved, fearing the same would likely happen again.
“The frightening aspect of this is the last two known cases occurred in school holidays,” he said.
“Imagine the horror if a small child came into contact or ingested the bait.”
The RSPCA and police said the investigation into the deaths was continuing. Ballarat Superintendent Jenny Wilson said the behaviour was “intolerable”.
“We need to appeal to the public that this is happening, someone will know something,” she said.
Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
