Dog Owners Urged to Vaccinate Pets Against Leptospirosis

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Pet owners around Lake Macquarie are being urged to monitor their cats and dogs for symptoms of leptospirosis. 

The call comes after a 12-week old puppy from Speers Point was diagnosed with the rare bacterial disease last week. 

The Belgian Shepherd pup was taken to Cardiff Vet Hospital, presenting symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea.

Cardiff vet Andrew Cornwell, said this is the first time the tropical disease has appeared in the Hunter region in decades. 

"Leptospirosis is a disease that dogs can contract through puddles contaminated with rat urine, either from drinking from the puddle or having their abrasions and cuts exposed to it. That's also the way people catch it as well, through abrasions and cuts on their legs being exposed to or contaminated with rat urine," he said. 

Mr Cornwell also noted vector-borne diseases' ability to thrive in warm, moist environments, particularly ponds, stagnant water and areas exposed to flooding.

"We believe it has probably occurred because of La Niña, where we've got a lot of water lying around and therefore its been a good opportunity for this bacteria to survive, but nonetheless, once it's in the environment, it's really going to take hot weather and a drought to get rid of it," Mr Cornwell said. 

Following an outbreak of leptospirosis in Sydney between 2017 and 2020, all 17 dogs infected with the disease died. 

Mr Cornwell is therefore urging all pet owners within a 3km radius of Speers Point to talk to their vet about getting their dogs vaccinated against the disease. He says the most affected suburbs will be Argenton, Warners Bay, Boolaroo, Booragul, Macquarie Hills and Teralba.  

While a vaccine is not a currently available for cats, Mr Cornwell said owners can protect their pets by instating effective pest control around the house. 

Novacastrians Asked to Choose Location of Cities New Dog Park

BY SAMUEL BARTLETT

A new dog park is set to be built in Newcastle with residents being asked to have their say which suburb would be best.

Lambton Park and Armstrong Park have been flagged as potential sites for the fenced off-leash park.

The changes are a result of the Dogs in Open Space Plan which showed high demand for more dog-friendly fenced areas.

According to Council, 60% of Novocastrians want more off-leash areas for their pets, expressing feedback on shade, signage and seating for the next dog park.

Site selection has opened for consultation and a detailed plan will become available when an area is decided.

The City of Newcastle is also exploring opportunities to improve canine facilities in Adamstown, Islington and Maryland.

Newcastle's first off leash park on Acacia avenue in North Lambton opened in October last year and has received lots of positive feedback.

Locals and community groups are able to provide feedback for the new dog park until the 5pm on the 6th of August at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/YourSay

Lambton Residents Matt Brooker (left) and Mary Webster (right) with Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen (centre)

Second Man Charged Over Adamstown Heights Break and Enter

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A second, 22-year-old man has been charged over Saturday's break and enter at Adamstown Heights which saw a police dog collapse from exhaustion.

Police allege two men tried to climb through a window on Stayton Street around 11:30 on Saturday night before the 84-year-old homeowner called police.

Police dog Kane and his handler tracked a 27-year-old man down and arrested him after a 3km search, which left Kane at a veterinary hospital after he collapsed from exhaustion.

The 27-year-old is still being processed in the court system, while his 22-year-old alleged accomplice faced the Newcastle Local Court today after being arrested and charged with eight offences:

• Break and enter with intent to commit serious indictable offence;
• Resist officer in execution of duty;
• Enter enclosed lands;
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen;
• Possess housebreaking implements;
• Aggravated break and enter;
• Go onto running lines;
• Aggravated break and enter dwelling in company.

Sniff Off: Greens Slam Police Dog Searches

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The drug dog program used by Newcastle Police has been labelled as 'wasteful and abusive' by the NSW Greens.

It comes after the party obtained data revealing there have been 684 searches as the result of suspicions raised by sniffer dogs in the Newcastle region over the four year period from 2014 to 2017.

Of those searches, only 150 resulted in the finding of illicit drugs - meaning around 78% of dog-prompted searches were unnecessary.

Greens MP, David Shoebridge says the searches are invasive and embarrassing.

"When you talk to people who have been the subject of a drug dog search, it's often happening on a train," he said.

"[Commuters] are literally pulled from their seat and all of the regular commuters they share the train with observe them.

"They're surrounded by police and police dogs before getting patted-down in public.

"It's a deeply humiliating process...and to think police are doing it on the basis of a drug dog indication that three out of four instances is wrong," he continued, "goes to show what a gross abuse of civil rights the drug dog program is."

David Shoebridge says the Greens have been running a Facebook campaign for four years titled 'Sniff Off,'  which identifies where drug dogs operate and allows the community to avoid them.

NSW Police have defended their scheme, saying the dogs provide a vital service in keeping our public transport and events such as music festivals safer by acting as a deterrent and road to punishment for drug users.

However, the Greens MP believes the number of resources used to conduct the searches is "out of whack" with the amount of drugs they uncover.

Critics would say any quantity of an illicit drug is worth locating and confiscating, but that may not be the sentiment shared by Mr Shoebridge.

"I'm not an expert in this," he admitted, "but my understanding is that major drug dealers don't move their drugs around cities like Newcastle and Sydney using their Opal cards and public transport."