Mystery surrounds the sudden death of a beloved family dog with fears the dog was poisoned at a local park
- Pooch died after eating something by the lake
- Maverick vomited and became ‘wobbly’
- Dog died just 20 minutes after leaving the park
A dog owner is distraught after the sudden death of her beloved puppy Maverick while on a routine walk at their local park.
Sheree Hastie was walking the two-year-old dog near Oxenford Lake on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Friday when he started behaving strangely.
When his concerned owner quickly loaded him into her car, Maverick started vomiting and became “wobbly” and weak at the knees.
Ms Hastie was desperately trying to get her dog treated for the mystery illness, but frustratingly, no clinics were open at the time.
She said Maverick was “gone” by the time she pulled into her driveway, just 20 minutes after they left the popular hiking spot.
“I’m just trying to understand how or why it happened,” she shared 7News.
Sheree Hastie (pictured) was walking her dog Maverick at Oxenford Lake on the Gold Coast on Friday when he started behaving strangely
Ms Hastie desperately tried to take Maverick (pictured) to the vet for treatment for the mystery illness, but frustratingly no clinics were open
Ms. Hastie smelled something “fishy” in the dog’s vomit and saw some “little fat bones” that made her think Maverick had ingested something poisonous.
“(It was) something very toxic that made him pass so quickly,” she said.
However, new information since the puppy’s sudden death has led her to believe that Maverick was not deliberately “baited out.”
Instances of dog fighting in parks across Australia have become commonplace in recent years, with dog owners in Sydney on high alert last month.
The bait, usually rat poison, is wrapped in food to appeal to dogs and to hide the smell and taste of the poison.
Dogs may experience lethargy, difficulty breathing, tremors or convulsions, or excessive panting or drooling when lured.
Without an anecdote, dogs can die within 1-2 hours of being poisoned.
Ms. Hastie said her other dogs, Frankie and Ellie, weren’t their usual playful selves after the loss of their little brother Maverick.
Ms Hastie has heard other dogs got sick after a visit to Oxenford Lake (pictured) with a second dog showing the same symptoms as Maverick on a Sunday walk
She has heard of other dogs getting sick after a visit to Oxenford Lake, with a second dog showing the same symptoms as her dog on a Sunday walk.
Unlike Maverick, the other dog survived.
The Gold Coast Council said there is already a sign warning dog owners to keep their animals on a leash at the lake, with others soon to be posted in the area.
Ms. Hastie has warned other dog lovers to always keep an eye on their beloved animals after the devastating loss of Maverick.
“I don’t want anyone else to go through what we went through this week,” said the distraught owner.