‘Spate’ of animal shootings
Investigation under way
THE RSPCA is investigating after a dog from the Leyburn area was the latest to fall victim to a “spate of animal shootings” across the Darling Downs.
Clarissa, as she has been affectionately named, was brought to the West Toowoomba Veterinary Clinic on Tuesday by the RSPCA ambulance after she was found by a member of the public in Leyburn.
Clarissa was found wandering around the Toowoomba Karara Rd, near the intersection of Bonnie Doon and Donovan Rds, south of Leyburn.
Clinic owner Christine Burke said Clarissa “had quite an obvious wound on her back” and posted photos of the dog on Facebook in the hope of identifying her, as the wound was where her microchip should be.
Preparing Clarissa for surgery on Thursday, vet Michael Burke found something more sinister.
“We clipped her hair off and saw an entry wound, and then Michael found bullet fragments in the wound,” Mrs Burke said.
Despite suffering a fair amount of muscle loss and the bullet shattering the top section of some of her vertebrae, Clarissa was recovering well, Mrs Burke
said.
“She’s happy as Larry, eats well, is barking, walking around, eating treats and getting spoiled,” she said.
Mrs Burke said the shooting of animals had up until this year been rare.
“But this year there seems to have been a spate of shootings. We had a cat who lost a leg earlier in the year, and obviously that dog down in the Lockyer Valley, and now this one,” she said.
“This year there seems to have been a bit more of an increase in animals being shot. I don’t know why.”
Mrs Burke said she could understand the temptation to shoot a dog that had repeatedly tresspassed on a neighbour’s property and harassed livestock.
“But we would always say... go and talk to your neighbours. People are more than happy usually to solve the problem,” she said. LEFT: An x-ray shows bullet fragments which were removed from Clarissa’s body during surgery on Thursday.
“But if you are going to shoot animals, please don’t leave them half shot.”
Clarissa arrived at the vet clinic with a “rip-roaring” temperature and if she hadn’t been picked up, the chances of her dying a terrible, lingering death were quite high, Mrs Burke said.
Anyone with any information should contact the RSPCA on 1300 852 188.
❝This year there seems to have been a bit more of an increase in animals being shot.” — Christine Burke