Caroline and her dog Archie with the fish hooks that had to be removed from his stomach. 83029 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
WILLIAMSTOWN resident Caroline Ladicani is calling on the council to put signs up around Gloucester Reserve urging fishermen to clean up after themselves after her beloved family pooch swallowed two fish hooks at the site.
Her four-year-old Labrador cross Spaniel – or Spanador, was being walked by her husband at the off-lead dog area when he swallowed the hooks.
“Because there are usually fishermen there, there’s always left over fish or bait and they (dogs) have a strong attraction to the smell and they’ll just race off ahead of you,” Mrs Ladicani said.
Mrs Ladicani said her husband saw Archie sniffing around and before he knew there was fishing line hanging out of his mouth.
“Archie seemed fine, thankfully he swallowed the whole thing whole and it went straight to his stomach, so he wasn’t suffering,” she said.
They took Archie to the vet where an X-ray discovered the fish hooks and Archie was rushed into surgery to remove them.
The vet said had the couple not realised what Archie had swallowed he would have died a very painful death as he attempted to digest the hooks and line.
“The vet said it was lucky the hooks didn’t get caught in his throat because that’s a hard area to get a fish hook out,” Mrs Ladicani.
“He’s a member of our family, if he’d died we would all be devastated.”
Aside the emotional distress the incident placed on the couple and their two children, the emergency operation is set the family back $2100.
Mrs Ladicani said she contacted the council requesting signs be put up advising fishermen to dispose of hooks and bait properly.
“I have no problems with fishermen fishing there, that’s part of the Williamstown landscape but so are the dogs and that’s an off-lead area so I expect it to be safe,” she said.
“I’m not trying to put blame on anyone,” she said. “If I have to pick up poop after a dog, surely someone has to pick up a hook after themselves.”
Mrs Ladicani said it was not just family dogs, but wildlife and children that could be injured by poorly discarded fish hooks.
She said the council had advised her they didn’t think placing signs at the site would work.
Hobsons Bay City Council works and assets director Phillip McDonald told the Star that council staff had inspected the off-lead area after receiving Mrs Ladicani’s letter alerting them to the issue.
“A sweeper was sent to sweep the path and officers inspected the area and no fish hooks were found,” Mr McDonald said.
“The council would remind everyone in the community of the importance of responsibly disposing of waste,” he said.
“Litter in all its forms is not only unsightly but can be harmful to animals and people.”
The council would not say whether or not it would consider install signs at the reserve.
