A truly terrible thing happened today to Byron (my
Lab). I know you will share in my mourning and I also want
to reiterate my warning about this.
We left the house this AM to take my other dog to the vet to have staples removed from her TPLO (knee) surgery, and when we returned, Byron, my goofy,
loveable, food-obsessed 14+ year old Lab was dead. My son had come home
while we were out and eaten a bowl of cheerios. He left the box on the
counter. Apparently Byron, got the box and began inhaling cheerios (I told
you about this previously and I rescued him). Tragically cereal boxes are
lined with a plastic bag. He inhaled the bag over his mouth and nose and
suffocated. A terrible death that is going to haunt me for years to come.
I'm in a total state of grief and shock - I've
explained to my son that he didn't cause this - if everyone who ever left a box
of cereal on the counter ended up with a dead dog, there'd be no more
dogs. But I keep trying to turn back the clock in my head (if only we
hadn't both gone to the vet, if only my son hadn't had a job cancellation that
gave him time to eat a bowl of cheerios..............) I know this is a
pointless line of thinking. I also know that most dogs are not
sufficiently food obsessed that this kind of thing could happen - and poor Byron
probably wouldn't have been if he hadn't been abused and deprived the first 7
years of his life. But, I am just so very sad right now.
I know you have little dogs, but even a dog
who is not a counter surfer could meet this fate if somehow the cereal box
accidentally ended up on the floor, or perchance a trash bag were raided.
I am devastated right now - I loved that damn dog - one of the best ever dogs -
and I am destroyed right now.
Be good and feel free to pass this actual occurrence on - if even one dog
can be saved it will be good.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss, our prayers go out to you. Thank you for the warning, with 2 teenagers, I have cereal boxes left out all the time. I will definetly have a new rule around here.
My deepest sympathies. I have a friend Lynn who lost her beloved Addie to a chip bag. Aparently they get obsessed with licking the bag and the lack of oxygen makes them fall peacefully asleep. It is Carbon Dioxide poisoning and can happen very quickly. Do not beat yourself up! It is an accident and I know you said it was a horrible death My friends vet said it is actually very peaceful. Take solace that your tragety can help save another dog. Keep the word out there and remember it can happen with any bag even a dog food bag. So punch out all bags and put away all boxes and chip bags that are within reach of counter surfers.
Again MY deepest sympathies. (((hugs))))
I am so very sorry for your loss, but please know that now you have made my family and friends aware of a potential danger we never imagined. May you be comforted by your wonderful memories of your beloved guy.
So so sorry to hear about your loss. You are in our prayers!! And thank you for making all of us aware. I have informed other friends of this also. Please don't beat yourself up over this accident.