News

Echuca dog poisoning case update

By Daniel Harvey

Aug 21, 2026

Police have charged a man in relation to the deaths of three dogs. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The act that shocked Echuca and left one local family heartbroken has now progressed to the Echuca Magistrates’ Court.

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Three dogs, Loki, Daisy and Buddy, died on Monday, June 15 after consuming a toxin at a walking track near the Echuca South harness racing track.

The deaths left their owners devastated and prompted concerns within the local community about the circumstances surrounding the animals’ deaths.

Campaspe Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man following the deaths of the three dogs.

The man was arrested on July 28 and has since been charged with aggravated cruelty, an act likely to cause unreasonable pain or suffering to an animal, criminal damage, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, possessing an unregistered firearm and failing to store a firearm securely.

He is due to appear at Echuca Magistrates’ Court on December 1.

The charges follow an investigation by the Campaspe Crime Investigation Unit, with assistance from Agriculture Victoria.

The deaths in June prompted an investigation into how the dogs came into contact with the toxin at the walking track.

The charges mark the latest development in the investigation, with the matter now before the courts.

As the matter is before the court, the allegations have not been proven.