5 puppies stolen, possibly for use as crab bait Bundaberg, QLD (AU) Incident Date: Friday, May 5, 2006 Disposition: Alleged Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 8350 Classification: Theft Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in QLD (AU) Login to Watch this Case

Queensland's RSPCA was investigating claims five sick puppies were stolen from a house at Bundaberg, possibly for use as crab bait. The eight-week-old border collies were found in a crab pot at a dam at Kentucky Bluegrass near Bundaberg in the state's southeast on May 5.

RSPCA chief inspector Byron Hall said a woman had today rung the local animal shelter, assuming responsibility for putting the animals in the crab pot after they were dumped in her yard. But the woman said someone had stolen the dogs, which were infested with ticks and worms, as she waited for the RSPCA to collect them. Insp Hall said another man then allegedly spotted the puppy thieves with the animals at a nearby dam. The man, who eventually handed the dogs in to the Bundaberg animal shelter, told authorities he believed those responsible were going to dump the animals in the dam.

Insp Hall said the people who took the dogs probably had sinister motives and could have wanted to use them as crab bait or drown them "for fun". "We've had cases in the past where we've found crab pots that have had dead puppies and kittens in them. It's not uncommon," he said. The puppy thieves reportedly drove away in a red XD Falcon after being spotted.

RSPCA Bundaberg animal shelter manager Vicky Beers said the animals were "absolutely smothered" in ticks and "full of worms". One did not have a penis, the result of a birth defect, and had to undergo surgery.

"They're all going to get vaccinated and wormed and hopefully we can get rid of some more ticks today," she said.

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References

The Courier Mail - May 6, 2006

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