By Tiffany Bond.
A Perth dog owner who arrived home to find her Jack Russell poisoned is facing vet bills of up to $12,000.
‘Dutch’ – 11 year old Jack Russell, recent dog baiting victim. Picture; Seven News.
Carolyn Banks found her 11 year old Jack Russell ‘Dutch’ in the backyard of her Leeming home, fighting for his life on Saturday.
Shenton Park Dog Refuge home. Picture; Tiffany Bond
She found Dutch, barely moving, after a suspected baiting attack.
The 11 year old Jack Russell now needs surgery. Carolyn told 7 News Perth.“We suspect that he’s ingested something caustic, which has burnt his stomach and damaged the top of his windpipe.”
The RSPCA says dog baiting attacks in Perth have increased, with 31 reported attacks since the start of July.
Shenton Park Dog Refuge home, which saves hundreds of unwanted, neglected, abandoned and abused dogs each year, says excessive barking appears to be the biggest cause of dogs being targeted by cruel offenders.
Lexi, a trainer at the dog shelter, says that baiting is a worrying trend.
Shenton Park Dog Refuge home. Photo Tiffany Bond
“One of the biggest issues with baiting is probably, excessive barking if owners are going to work and dogs just constantly bark.”
Due to the rising cases of dog baiting in WA, Lexi advises those with a dog to find out if it barks when they are not home and, if it does, to address it.
“You really have to get to the route of the cause: are they in pain? That can be tricky but for the short term if you can have them inside, or access to inside and outside, that may stop the barking.”
Most dogs at the refuge are victims of neglect.
“Dogs come in severely overweight, severely underweight, they’re kind of the regular things that we see and skin conditions, are a big one,” Lexi says