Remain vigilant when walking dogs

Reports last month of dogs dying from poisoning now seem to be linked to a single private property, rather than a public open space.

In April the City’s Rangers Services received reports that several dogs had died, as a result of suspected poisoning in the area of Rushton Park, Kelmscott.

Further recent cases of dogs suffering from what appear to be effects of poisoning have now highlighted a single property in Mt Nasura as the common link to all of the suspected poisoning cases.

Chief Executive Officer Ray Tame said that as a precautionary measure the City acted swiftly to advise residents to be vigilant when walking dogs in the area of Rushton Park, due to the speculation that baiting may have been involved.

"The City’s Rangers undertook thorough searches of the reserve and its surrounds on several occasions and were unable to identify anything suspicious.

"Ongoing investigations by Ranger Services have found no evidence to support the speculation of dogs having being poisoned at Rushton Park, or any other public open space within the City of Armadale.

"Unfortunately two more dogs have recently died under suspicious circumstances, and the common denominator is that they all resided at, or visited, a private property in the Mt Nasura area.

"Last week local vets sent off samples for toxicology tests and are waiting on the results to determine if poison was involved, and if so what type, so the property owner can act on the results to remove any poisonous substance.

"The RSPCA are continuing to look into the matter, in consultation with local vets and the property owner," said Chief Executive Officer Ray Tame.

Whilst at this time there isn’t concrete evidence to pinpoint a specific location, the City urges owners to be vigilant when exercising their dogs in open space areas, and report any suspicious behaviour or substance to Ranger Services on 9399 0111 or 1300 886 885.