Balmain dog owners rally against poison attacks

In a show of solidarity, hundreds of dog owners in Balmain have rallied against a recent spate of dog poisonings in local parks.

The gathering, held in Mort Bay Park on Sunday, September 19, was designed to raise awareness of the poisonings, which so far have reportedly affected 11 dogs, one fatally.

The co-ordinator of the rally, Rowena, who asked for her surname not to be published, hopes the reward will encourage anyone with information about the poisonings to come forward.

“I’ve asked Council where we can find out information so we can better inform people of the truth instead of all these Chinese whispers,” she said.

She added that until now, residents had not been kept informed of what was happening.

“The lack of information is what’s causing the hysteria,” she said. “I think initially they tend to not want to tell us things so that they don’t freak us out, but somebody’s always going to hear something.

“We’re hoping the reward will flush out whoever it is.”

Mort Bay Park, usually something of a mecca for dog walkers, has been almost deserted since the poisonings occurred in early September. No poisonings have been reported in recent days, but the ‘No more dog shit’ graffiti which appeared at the time of the initial spate of attacks still serves as a reminder of the danger to dog owners in the area.

Olivia Hassin from Balmain Veterinary Hospital said the poisoned dogs had all been walked in Mort Bay or Ballast Point Parks hours before, and appeared to have eaten meatballs laced with a blue substance.

It is believed the poisoned meatballs were deliberately planted in the parks to send a message to dog walkers. But Rowena is hoping that Sunday’s show of support by the community will show the perpetrator just how many people they are up against and encourage people to return to the park.

Local dog owner Wendy Jones has returned to walking her two Labradors in the park but is cautious about the risks.

“I came down on Sunday morning and there was no-one here,” she said. “But I figure, if we don’t come back, then this person wins.”

Ms Jones said she was shocked by the poisonings in what is usually a canine-friendly community.

“This is a suburb where people leave bowls of water outside the shop for dogs. It makes me feel ill that someone would take the time to put gloves on and wrap ratsack in mince – it’s so premeditated.”

A spokesperson for Balmain police said additional patrols were presently being conducted in the parks, and extra signage warning people of the poisonings had been erected.

They do not currently have any leads on who is behind the attacks.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the cause can email nomorebaits@gmail.com for more information.

by Amy Kelly