Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National
Caroline Perryman 

Cavoodle's near-death experience sparks police probe into illegal baiting at Pearl Beach, NSW

Minnie the cavoodle was violently ill after eating baits at Pearl Beach. (Supplied: Catherine Hyland/Pearl Beach Progress Association)

Police are investigating and residents are on the alert after meat laced with poison was discovered on a New South Wales Central Coast beach and in nearby parkland.

The alarm was raised when Minnie the cavoodle became unwell after eating a bait she found on the beach.

"I went to see what she was eating," owner Catherine Hyland said.

"A few pieces had broken off that looked brownish in colour on the outside.

"But when I looked at it closely, it was brilliant blue and I thought, 'This isn't right.'"

Minnie is a regular at Pearl Beach. (Supplied: Catherine Hyland)

On the way home, Ms Hyland took the pieces to a hardware store at Umina, where she was told it was bait and was advised to take her dog straight to the vet.

"Within the hour of her eating the bait she … vomited up a fair amount of blue," Ms Hyland said.

Minnie had to undergo a plasma transfusion. (Supplied: Catherine Hyland)

Minnie was eventually admitted to a local animal hospital where testing indicated the substance was probably rat poison because her blood clotting levels were so low.

Minnie then underwent a plasma transfusion.

"I was really shocked when the blood results came back and they were so abnormal," Ms Hyland said.

"They had a reading of four times what they should have been," she said.

"It has been stressful and heartbreakingly sad."

More than 10 baits were found at the southern end of Pearl Beach. (Supplied: Pearl Beach Progress Association)

Police investigating

Two weeks before Minnie became sick, Pearl Beach Progress Association president Karina Stafford said a dead domestic cat had been found at the southern end of the beach.

A dead snake was also found, but not much was made of the discoveries.

After Minnie ended up in the vet hospital, however, baits started to be found in the area.

"We found loads of baits where the grass meets the sand, which is also where kids play," she said.

"All along that end of the beach we found a huge number of baits."

These residents helped in the search for the baits. (Supplied: Pearl Beach Progress Association)

Police have confirmed they are investigating the matter.

In NSW the maximum penalty for an individual found guilty of poisoning an animal is $22,000, imprisonment for two years, or both.

Ms Hyland said Minnie was back home and recovering.

"To say I'm relieved is an understatement," she said.

Ms Hyland's vet bills have topped $5,000.

Central Coast Council was alerted about the "distressing incident" on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson said in a statement.

"The baits may have been placed deliberately and, as such, council has reported the incident to the Environment Protection Authority as the appropriate agency that administers and enforces the Pesticide Act," they said.

"Council can confirm that no council baiting programs have been undertaken at Pearl Beach."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.