A Cromer family say they are traumatised after their dog was intentionally poisoned in their own home last week.
Rovi, the 5-year-old Italian Greyhound was rushed to Northside Emergency Veterinary on Friday evening, 21 March, after his owner Gil Snir found him convulsing in his play area at their Cromer home on Fisher Rd.
“I instantly knew something’s very wrong, because usually when I’d pick him up, he’d have his two paws and put them on me as I’m holding him,” Gil retold Manly Observer, sitting in the backyard where the beloved pup used to play, “but this time, he was just kind of almost lifeless,”
“Pretty much halfway through the trip, he stopped moving. So we got to the vet, they started CPR, and they couldn’t recover him.”
The vet soon after began asking questions about the dog’s diet and the family’s garden; if he’d been fed any chicken recently or if they used slug pellets. The former, as well as a “bright blue liquid” resembling the latter, had been found partially digested in Rovi’s vomit – Gil answered no to both questions.
“She [the vet] showed me a bunch of undigested white chicken with what looks like a blue substance throughout it. So yeah, obviously my heart sank. I knew that he’d been poisoned by somebody.”
“She [the vet] showed me a bunch of undigested white chicken with what looks like a blue substance throughout it. So yeah, obviously my heart sank. I knew that he’d been poisoned by somebody.”
Some of the remains vomited up by RoviSlug pellets contain metaldehyde, which can have a lethal effect on dogs within 30 minutes to a few hours after consumption.The sample taken by vets was provided to police. Northside Emergency Veterinary deduced the dog’s symptoms and the blue colour of the substance ingested could also be 1080, a poison used in baits to control fox populations which has a much stronger effect than slug pellets.
The family were confused about how their young pup could’ve come across any of the fatal substances, they were with him for hours beforehand and their backyard has no street access and is enclosed by surrounding houses.
The next day, Gil was searching around the back garden when he discovered what appeared to be a ‘smoking gun’. Multiple dead slugs surrounding a small dug-up hole leading under the neighbouring fence.
He took a photo and showed it to his wife Laura, who noticed a similar blue substance embedded around the dirt.
The family has been at their residence for over a year and have never received a complaint about their dog, Laura was home with him most days due to being a new mother.
Neighbours have also since denied using slug pellets when Gil questioned them.
Northern Beaches Police said they are aware of the dog poisoning and investigations have begun into the incident. But the Snir’s said they aren’t holding their breath for an arrest as police say either CCTV or an admission are usually needed in these cases.
Dog Baiting in the Area
Dog baiting usually refers to intentionally lacing meat with chemicals which are harmful or fatal to dogs and placing it in an area where it will be consumed. It is a practice used to control wild dog populations which can pose a threat to livestock – but it can also be implemented more despicably on pets.
Northern Beaches Police Area Command said they are currently unaware of any similar cases of dog poisoning under investigation in the area.
Northside Emergency Veterinary stated Rovi’s case is a rarity, with the only similar cases they’ve experienced recently being dogs unintentionally poisoned with 1080 in national parks undergoing fox baiting.
However, this is not the first time dog poisoning has been present on the beaches. Two years ago, 9 June 2023, Northern Beaches Council placed signs around Forty Baskets Beach cautioning people to be on the lookout for ‘bait’ after several dogs were reportedly poisoned.
At the time, Manly Observer was confidentially informed of tensions between residents and visitors if their dog was barking. One resident overheard conversations of dog baiting incidents in the area and reported it to police on 2 June. Five days later, the suspected poisoning occurred.
In August 2019 a string of dog baiting incidents took place through Clontarf, Curl Curl and Bayview following Northern Beaches Council administering 29 off-leash dog walking zones in the local government area.
Council said they have not received any reports of baiting across the Northern Beaches for some time before this week.
On Wednesday, 26 March, a potential baiting incident at Manly Cemetery was received.
Rangers were dispatched to investigate. After finding some food left at the location and discussion with witnesses, the incident was reported to Police. Council said there is no evidence to suggest the substance was dangerous, and investigations are ongoing.
Early signs that your dog may have been poisoned are if they are unsettled, tremoring or seizuring. Clinic Manager Dr Cloe Davies from Northside Emergency Veterinary says if you see these signs in your pet, bring them to emergency immediately.
“If the owners bring them in at any point along that progression, they usually do okay once we treat them,” Dr Davies told Manly Observer.
“We’re always open after hours, we’ve always got experienced vets on, we’ve got ICU level care that can provide 24-hour care.”
A Caution to Pet Owners
The family is traumatised by the incident. Rovi was bought five years ago as a COVID dog and has been there through thick and thin, including the birth of two children. However, the biggest hurdle Gil and Laura said they had to face was delivering the news to their four-year-old son.
“We’ve obviously watered down the story. Don’t really see any good reason to kind of traumatise him by letting him know that somebody intentionally hurt our dog. So we just let him know that Rovi was very sick and has gone to doggy heaven,” Gil said.
“It feels very strange to not have him in the house… just feels like it’s got a big hole in it without Rov here.”
Although the family knows nothing can bring their family pet back, they want to focus their attention to alerting people to stay vigilant, to prevent this from happening to anyone again.
“The number one thing I think to do if you got pets in your backyard is to install some CCTV cameras, ring doorbells. I obviously didn’t have any when the incident took place, but since then, I’ve now put four around the house,” Gil said.
“Reality is that the cops are pretty clear that you don’t have a case unless it’s filmed on camera or there’s an admission… we were very careful with Rov… just for it to not even be safe in our own home is really concerning.”
