By Tate Papworth
A relaxing walk in Brimbank Park has turned into a harrowing ordeal for three-year-old cocker spaniel, Rocher.
Rocher was being walked on leash down a path at the park by her owner Michael Mahoney when a rabbit caught her attention.
“She saw the rabbit and dived for it. Unfortunately there’s a plantation absolutely full of stinging nettle,” Mr Mahoney said.
“We went for breakfast shortly after and her nose started to erupt.
“I took her to the vet and she’s had to go back four times since. She even had to be put under for two hours and have all the skin from below her eyes to the tip of her nose scraped away.”
Mr Mahoney said the lack of signage alerting people to the hazardous plant was troubling.
“There’s no sign telling people there’s a hazard. Young children run past it every day – what if a kid running with a ball or something falls into it or something?
“I’ve contacted Parks Victoria multiple times since, who assured me signage would be put up, but the only thing they’ve done is put up a sign indicating weed spraying is being undertaken.”
Parks Victoria Keilor Plains area chief ranger David Collins confirmed the hazard in an email to Mr Mahoney and said it was unlikely to be eradicated.
“The site you refer to has seen a recent flush of growth in this weed due to ground disturbance by rabbits, and the prolonged periods of poor rainfall over the past eight months,” the email stated.
“Prior to this flush of growth, this area of park was used for conducting holiday programs that concluded in early Autumn. At that time the presence of this weed was not detected.
“I have instructed park staff to implement a weed control program over the coming days … although it is highly unlikely that we will eradicate it, we will reduce its area of cover.”
