Dog snatched, tossed in air and eaten by huge croc

A horrified Kimberley dog owner was left helpless as he watched a giant saltwater crocodile snatch his pet, toss it up into the air then eat it.

The 4m croc pounced on the Staffordshire bull terrier about 7am yesterday at Langi Crossing on the Fitzroy River near Derby, about 140km east of Broome.

Department of Parks and Wildlife officer Peter Carstairs said he had confirmed the incident with the dog’s owner.

Mr Carstairs said the owner had returned from fishing when the dog waded into the water up to its belly and was suddenly snatched.

“The crocodile killed the animal and ate it,” he said.

“At one point the crocodile flicked the dog in the air as it was killing it, and the owner is pretty distraught about what happened.”

Mr Carstairs said crocodiles could grow up to 6m long in that area and he warned the public to be vigilant.

“People should not be complacent as crocodiles are know to be in that stretch of water,” he said.

Mr Carstairs said people on the water’s edge should be extra careful and dog owners should make sure their animals stayed clear of the river.

Derby-based recreational fisherman Darren “Dags” Cross said people should assume there is a saltwater crocodile in every pool and waterway in the Kimberley.

“Mary’s Pool near Halls Creek has a large saltwater croc in it and that's 500km from the coast,” he said.