Dog owner still in mourning

The owners of a dog that died after eating a possum poisoned by 1080 say it is probably too soon to replace their much-loved pet.

Mike and Kylee Sharp's labrador whippet cross, Chopper, died on the way to the vet after eating a poisoned possum on the family's property south of Oakura on Thursday.

The Sharps had not been notified of the Conservation Department's 1080 drop in the Egmont National Park area on February 20.

On Sunday, a South Taranaki family contacted the Taranaki Daily News to offer the Sharps their four-year-old labrador, Sam.

However, Mr Sharp said his family was still upset by Chopper's death and it was probably too soon to replace the dog.

DOC had also offered to give the family a new dog but Mr Sharp said that offer would not be taken up.

"If they had called to warn us about the drop we wouldn't be in this situation to begin with."

Two more possums had been found on the property since Chopper died and farmers on a neighbouring property have also said they were not notified before last month's 1080 drop.

"We got told there would be a 1080 drop coming up this year and we got told that last winter," Megan Holmes said.

"The first thing we knew was when the helicopter was flying over the house."

DOC had directly notified property owners immediately neighbouring the park and had offered them muzzles for their dogs.

The offer was not made to the Sharps or their neighbours because their homes do not border the park.

DOC is now looking at extending its direct contacts to include nearby landowners.

- © Fairfax NZ News