When Minnie was admitted to the Animal Referral Hospital at West Gosford, Ms Hyland was told Minnie needed a plasma transfusion as rat poison was found inside the dog baits.
Ms Hyland said, “It has been stressful and heartbreakingly sad”. She has so far spent almost $5,500 on vet bills to help Minnie recover.
The Pearl Beach Progress Association has urged residents to remove the dog baits if they have seen them and report directly to the council and Woy Woy Police.
“The baits may have been placed deliberately and as such, the council has reported the incident to the Environment Protection Authority as the appropriate agency that administers and enforces the Pesticide Act,” a spokesperson from Central Coast Council said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
NSW police have confirmed that the case is under investigation.
NSW has strict laws against poisoning domestic animals. Any breach of this law attracts a maximum penalty of $110,000 in the case of a corporation and a fine of $22,000 in the case of an individual.
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