Dog owners in Edgecombe are on high alert after a neighbouring landowner laid poisonous fox baits across his property.
The 1080 poison, known as ‘Fox Off’, is legal to use subject to permit safety requirements being met but domestic dogs and cats are susceptible to poisoning if they ingest baits.
The 90-acre property in question, to the north of Kyneton, is surrounded by multiple small-acreage allotments with residents who all have domestic pets.
Michelle Fletcher and Clint Young have been forced to put muzzles on their dogs in their own backyard.
“Farmers don’t even like to use it now. I understand it out on acreage, like thousands of acres, but this is a small property and close to neighbouring properties,” Michelle said.
“His property’s only 100 metres from our house and we’re just worried that poison could be carried by birds or foxes to our property and they vomit it up.
“I’ve seen dogs get poisoned before and it’s not very pretty.
“There’s no antidote to it.”
Monique and Luke Bergbauer are in a similar position, owning both dogs and cats.
“My husband and I are very concerned, one of our dogs is not even five months old so he just picks up everything,” Monique said.
“We’re on 20 acres and the entire 20 acres has a neighbouring fenceline to this property.
“I just don’t believe the use of 1080 poison in such close proximity to neighbouring houses is fair. There are 13 houses within 1200 metres of his property. The risk is just too high.”
Neighbour Angus Strawhorn said 1080 poison posed a risk to his family’s working dogs too.
“We don’t want 1080 on our property, yet we have already found one toxic fox carcass on our place, which has to be disposed of by burying a metre deep or incinerating (department regulation),” he said.
“The individual next door has no hope of containing the poison to his own property.
“He doesn’t live here and the use of 1080 in such a small, heavily populated area is inappropriate.”
A spokesperson for Agriculture Victoria said controlling pest animals was important for the protection of native animals and livestock.
“In Victoria products containing 1080 are used for the control of rabbits, wild dogs, foxes and feral pigs,” the spokesperson said.
“Only people who are authorised and appropriately trained can legally purchase, possess or use 1080 bait products.”
