A CROCODILE ATE MY DOG
HINCHINBROOK farmer David Robino has lost his beloved pet dog to a crocodile during Ingham’s flood.
And he says action needs to be taken by the authorities before a person is attacked.
The 80- year- old’s four- year- old kelpie cross Benji disappeared about 6pm on Friday, believed taken by a crocodile at his property by Loder Creek, a tributary of Victoria Creek.
Benji was the Braemeadows cane and cattle farmer’s only pet.
Mr Robino did not spot the culprit but said he had previously seen crocodiles in the area, including a 2.7m animal across the road, in the past couple of weeks.
“When the water was up lapping the bank, he ( Benji) was there and he just vanished,” a distraught Mr Robino said.
“It was a dog trained not to go in the water, not to swim and anything like that.
“The only way he would have gone near the water was if he was chasing a rat or bandicoot or something.
“I had my livestock for three days there stomping around the place and that probably attracted him up there.
“I was four years training that dog. He was very obedient. Most kelpies are like that. Very intelligent.”
Mr Robino has fencing around his house but said Benji was outside at the time. “He was just sitting outside for a while, watching,” he said. “My brother went through a bit of water there and he wouldn’t go with him over the water. “I called an hour later to have a feed and he was gone; just like that.” Mr Robino said a check with neighbours revealed none of them had seen Benji. “It was definitely a crocodile because they’re in there. I’ve seen them in the creek,” he said. “They’re very cunning. “Something’s got to be done about them otherwise people are going to start taking things into their own hands. I’ve got young grandchildren, too,” he said.
“I used to swim in that creek when I was a kid there. All the other kids – the neighbours – used to swim in the creek as well.
“Years ago, I learnt to dog paddle in that creek. Nobody had a fear of crocodiles then. Now you can’t put your foot in the water.”
Mr Robino said it was a difficult situation dealing with crocodiles because no action could be taken against them, even if lives were at risk.
“That croc would be dangerous there; it was only metres from the house,” he said.
Mr Robino’s cattle were unscathed.