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16 August – 29 August 2011
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Rangers hunt Charlie’s killer By Keith Platt THE owners of a loved family pet mauled to death by a larger dog at Tyabb fear the same fate may be in store other small dogs. Four-year-old King Charles spaniel Charlie was having his daily walk at Tyabb oval on Monday 9 August with Phillip Poppleton when attacked by another dog that ran across from the leash-free area. Mr Poppleton, 82, took a kick at the attacking animal’s head, but was unable to scare it away from Charlie. A cleaner at the football club drove Mr Poppleton and Charlie to the Hastings vet, but efforts to save him were in vain. Meanwhile, the elderly owner of the offending dog collected his animal before driving off in a small blue sedan. His dog is described as being black with a white throat. If found guilty of an offence, the dog’s owner faces a $5000 penalty. Charlie’s owners could also seek damages and costs in civil proceedings. While Mr Poppleton and Charlie’s owner, his former wife Anne Tebbutt, and other family members are reeling from the shock of losing their pet, Mornington Peninsula Shire rangers are trying to track
down the offending dog and its owner. Ms Tebbutt said she was dreading breaking the news of Charlie’s death to her fouryear-old granddaughter. “I want people to be aware of this dog. You wonder if it has done it before and will it do it again? “Charlie was part of the family and this is just horrible.” Jonathon Poppleton said his father was distressed by the incident. “My dad was covered in blood and was very upset as one can imagine. He has been walking the family dogs at the Tyabb football ground for the last 10 or more years. “The cleaner at the football club saw my dad and drove Phillip and Charlie to my Mum’s home in Tyabb. Dad would not have been able to carry Charlie home as he is 82 years old.” Michael Doyle, a member of the shire’s environment team, said rangers were looking in the Tyabb area “trying to find the attacking dog and its owner”. Exercising dogs in off-leash areas was a “privilege that comes with responsibilities for dog owners”. Anyone who can help identify the dog that killed Charlie can call 1300 850 600.
Family loss: Melissa Bridge, left, with Anne Tebbutt and Charlie, their family’s loved King Charles spaniel killed by another dog while being walked at Tyabb.
Closure fears at BlueScope
BLUESCOPE Steel could be forced to mothball its steelmaking plant at Hastings, says a steel industry analyst from investment bank Credit Suisse. Last week BlueScope issued a notice to the Australian Stock Exchange saying it was considering not exporting its steel products. The company has been battered by a strong Australian dollar, rising iron ore and coking coal prices, a weakening domestic market, lower shipping prices for foreign competitors and lower cost Chinese steel. BlueScope’s shares are down 57 per cent since the start of the year and last week fell to below $1 after trading at $12 before the global financial crisis in 2008. The threatened closure or mothballing of the company’s Western Port facility would devastate families across the Mornington Peninsula and further afield. See full story on pages 2 and 3.
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