Five dogs have mysteriously died after all going for a walk on the same beach.
The pets all seemed fine while going for a walk on the beach on Queensland, Austalia’s Sunshine Coast, but then fell ill not long after getting home.
They all had symptoms of being poisoned after going to the Point Cartwright and Buddina beach area, Sunshine Coast Council said.
The five dogs had to be out down.
Two-year-old beagle, Billy, was among them.
Owners Val and Peter Logan said Billy was happy when they got home from the walk, but quickly deteriorated.
“About half an hour later … he brought up quite a lot of food … kept vomiting to the point where we were really concerned,’ Mr Logan told the ABC.
Billy was taken to a vet but died that night.
A staffy-cross rescue dog called Sophie also died.
She was on a trial adoption with a new owner, who was said to be “heartbroken” at Sophie’s death.
A golden Labrador called Pepper was also among the dead dogs.
Queensland Police are now investigating after dog owners claimed that some locals were against dogs being able to use the reserve.
One dog owner claimed someone had been leaving chocolates out on the path, which can be dangerous for dogs to eat.
Others claimed battery acid may have been placed in communal water bowls.
“Residents of the Sunshine Coast please use caution if walking your pets around the areas of Buddina, Minyama, Pt Cartwright and La Balsa,” North Coast Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care posted on Facebook.
“We unfortunately have had a series of patients presenting with alike symptoms that may suggest a toxicity by ingestion,
“Although we are unable to confirm the cause of these presentations, the link to these patients is the area that they have walked within the 12 hours prior.”