(Au)Ban baits call as pet dies

July 10, 2002

Ban (1080) baits call as pet dies

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By DANIELLE WOOD

06jul02

IT took four generations of breeding alaskan malamutes for Claire Macfarlane

to get the perfect dog, only to see her die " the most excruciating death

imaginable " .

Three-year-old Mooshi died from 1080 poisoning after she was allowed out of

Ms Macfarlane's Rocky Cape home for a toilet stop in the evening.

" The (poisoned)wallaby she ate had travelled about 3km from the farm where

the baits were laid, and it died within 20m of our house, " Ms Macfarlane

said.

" There is basically no way of protecting your dogs unless you lock them

inside all the time, and never let them outside without taking them on a

leash. "

Wildlife carer and 1080 poison opponent Suzy Manigian has been prompted by

Mooshi's death to start a register to try to find out just how many domestic

pets die in Tasmania each year as a result of 1080 poison drops.

" We know that the number is in the dozens, but we would really like to hear

from people who lose their animals to 1080 so we can find out exactly how

many there are, " Ms Manigian said.

" We'll be submitting the information to the national registration authority

for agricultural and veterinary chemicals which is currently reviewing 1080,

to demonstrate that the Tasmanian code of practice is a failure in terms of

protecting companion animals and people's rights. "

The bait which killed Mooshi was laid by a beef farmer trying to protect his

pasture from browsing by wallabies.

But Ms Macfarlane said it's not his fault, but the fault of the law.

She said 1080 should be banned, or some way found for every animal carcass

to be collected by poisoners.

" She was my best friend, she was very sweet and friendly with any animal she

ever met, " she said.

" She was the fourth generation dog I'd bred, and I got gentler and better

dogs each time. I don't have children of my own, the dogs are like family. "

Pet deaths from 1080 poison can be reported to the Tasmanian Conservation

Trust on 6234 3552.

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