The Australia Day award winner has cared for wildlife animals more than 30 years, but she questioned whether she would continue her caring role after waking up to see what she described as a graveyard in her backyard. 

She said the dogs ripped the throats of the five joeys in the backyard of the McIlwraith Street property. 

“I will be haunted by the massacre of my joeys for years to come,” she said. 

“As the sun came up the lifeless little bodies lay littered across the yard. They didn’t stand a chance.” 

Two of the dogs were caught and impounded while the third was under the control of its owner. 

The wildlife carer said there was a dog and feral cat problem in Cloncurry that needed addressing. She said the council’s local laws officer needed additional resources including more overtime to solve the issue. 

She also wanted the dogs’ owner prosecuted. 

The police station’s officer-in-charge, Senior Sergeant Brad Rix, said Cloncurry did not have a worse dog problem than any other community and that the matter was an isolated incident. 

Cloncurry Shire Council’s chief executive officer David Neeves said the Council will investigate the matter, and will likely destroy the two dogs impounded. 

The third dog was under the control of its owner but this would depend on the results of the investigation. 

“Those actions may include the issue of fines or even a prosecution of the owner,” Mr Neeves said. 

“This incident is a reminder to all dog owners of their responsibilities in caring for their animals.

“Owners have a responsibility to ensure their dogs are always under effective control and never roaming uncontrolled.”