A Tragic Story that must be told

This story has a very sad ending, but I believe it is important that anybody who has a dog that plays frequently wirh other dogs should read it.

This is one of those stories that you'll read and say well I knew that could happen, but nobody ever tells anybody else.

This story is about 2 dogs. A King Shepherd Asilyn (18mths) and a Rottie Mix named Rudy (8mths). The two were best friends and always played happily together, slept together and basically did everything together.

This July well I was at camp I called my mother one evening and she was crying. I asked what was wrong and she told me that Asilyn had died.

She told me that about an hour ago the dogs were in the back yard playing and she was in the house doing some clean-up when she heard Rudy whinning. She went outside to see what was going on. To her horror she saw that Rudy had Asilyn collar stuck in his mouth. the collar was in a figure eight, Asilyn was chocking. (It was the most horrible sight she had ever seen)

She ran to them and pinned down Rudy in an attempt to let Asilyn get more air, but Asilyn was still chocking she tried to get the collar off but couldn't becasue the buckle was caught in the back of Rudy's mouth. (Behind his mollars). Home alone with Asilyn chocking she had no choice but to run and get something to cut the collar off with. She ran into the house, got scissors and ran back out to find Rudy had dragged Asilyn across the yard. By the time she had cut the collar off it was to late. Although CPR was attempted it didn't work. Asilyn was burried the next day on a friends farm.

One of Rudy teeth were chipped and he had a sore swollen jaw for awhile but he is fine now.

These was a very tragic accident.

Should dogs wear collars when outside playing? Should they have constant supervision when they are playing in a fenced off yard? These are a few questions that we have asked ourselves since.

But it was an accident that we never considered but want others to consider when their dogs are out playing together.

 

had something similar happen around here...except the one dog was found dragging the body of the other dog around with him - can't imagine such a horrific thign happening

 

That's really horrible! But this has probably happened more than you know.

I put my dogs in their harnesses one day and then put them out until I was ready to leave. (15 minutes) When I went to get them, Reese had partially pulled Grace's harness over her head and had twisted her front leg till it almost popped out of its socket. Another couple of minutes, he might have choked her.

Now that my dogs are older, their always separated when I'm not there. Also harnesses aren't left on unsupervised. I still leave their collars on in case something should happen and they need to have their I.D. on them. Even though they're not together unsupervised, it still makes me worry about leaving on the collars.

 

A similar thing happened to my friends dogs once. Only no one was seriously injured. But since my dogs play so rough and alot of play with the neck they do not normally have collars on. Now the only downside to that is what if one of them gets out? We have not found a perfect solution to this yet but are trying. But it is important to be aware of this. Thanks for posting and sorry for your loss.

 

Very sad story. :cry:
Natalie has a break-away collar which I think are great for preventing situations such as this from happening.

 

Oh that is so sad. I've never had something like that happen. My dogs don't usually play rough, but i might invest in some breakaway collars.

 

When I was a teenager my Mom had two Pugs. The figure eight (S Hooks) were on both collars. They were also playing in the backyard. Somehow the hook off one dog got hooked through the others eyelid. Thankfully we were able to get the collar off and rush him to the vets.The vet was able to remove it easily and there was no lasting damage. It was a horrific sight and very scarry at the time. We use key ring type hooks now and breakaway collars.

 

I leave collars off when the dogs are inside or out in the backyard. I do worry about them somehow getting out of the yard, but they aren't outside for very long and I am always home and checking on them. I only put the collars on when we are going for a walk or going in the car. Nala is microchipped and I would like to get Bonnie done as well.

 

That is SO sad! :cry:

I also do not have Molly & Emma's collar on them when they are inside or outside. We live on several acres and have an area fenced in just for them.. they are allowed to go out into their area and play but either my hubby or I are always with them. Every so often, they are out there alone, maybe 5/10 minutes at the most and even then I check on them through the window.

When we take them for a walk or take a trip in the car, we put their harnass & collar on at that time. I've heard stories like this before, and because we have two puppies I only use their collars when absolutely needed.