At about 7pm tonight I decided Sugar needed a good long walk. At the last minute I decided to take her to the Bull Creek dog park. Something didn't seem quite right there - weird vibe - but I thought it was just because I was tired from my workout just before or that I was hungry. We walked down to the water & Sugar chased & placed rocks like she always likes to do. There were a few other dogs around, but not many. It was sort of a calm night. The water is low.
So then I see this guy with his dog coming from the Bull Creek trail on the other side of the water. He's carrying his big (100+ lbs.) dog around his neck like a scarf, and I made a comment like "wow" and then I noticed the dog's tongue was hanging out of his mouth about 8". Then I said, "Is he okay?" And the owner said, "no." So then I asked if he needed any help (e.g., getting to the car, calling someone, getting some water, etc.) and the man looked at me and then at the dog, and then back at me and said, "It's too late."
The dog had died of heat stroke. That much was obvious. I stood there stunned and sad then repulsed and sick. After a few minutes, Sugar and I walked up the hill to the cars, and ended up talking to some other people who had more information. The dog had died of heat stroke from being out on the hiking trails all day. What the hell was that man thinking?? Just makes me so, so sad...
Sugar's trainer told me a good way to keep dogs busy during the day, when it's too hot to go outside for a walk or exercise is to fill a Kong with wet dog food and freeze it. They get a small, cold snack, and they have to work for it. Sugar seems to like it. That, and ice cubes. But NEVER would I take her out for an extended period of time in this oppressive heat. Nothing between the hours of 10am-6pm that is more than just a short potty break.
Maybe I'm overly cautious, but my dog is also still breathing.
About Me
- Shorey
- Daughter, sister, friend, age-group athlete, and pet-mom to 2 kitties & a dog. Oh and my dog has her own kitten.
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4 comments:
:( I read your facebook status last night and was so sad. I can't imagine seeing that and not being completely shaken. Especially those big dogs in the heat...they need extra cool temps.
Love on Sugar extra hard.
Too bad the guy didn't realize the dog was struggling early on. I know my dog can barely tolerate an easy run at 7am these days and I always hose her off and give her plenty of water. She does stay out side all day but she has a completely shaded dog play yard and unlimited supplies of water. The guy needs to go running with a fur coat and rubber suit on to get a feel for what a dog experiences in the heat.
My 14 yr old chow/shepard mix died yesterday from a heat stroke and it's my fault. We we're having a tree in the back yard taking down. The workers asked me to move him for fear of getting bit. It was 8:45am when I moved him, I left for work at 11:15, only to find out later Mi was having the hottest, most humid day of the year. Rocko was dead when my husband got home. I never even considered the possibility of this happening, it's June in Michigan, not Texas or Arizona, I've cried all night, we buried him in the back yard, made a cross and had a candle light vigile last night. My husband is still not speaking to me. Our 16 yr old knows, the 14 doesn't, she's in GA untill next tuesday. I'm so ashamed, I've got a college education and still allowed this to happen to my baby. I feel like I've been punched in the stomach.
Anonymous - I'm sorry for your loss. I understand that horrific accidents can happen, and it's easy to be angry - as a family member or even a bystander. It will pass, and we will all learn a valuable lesson.
It sounds like you loved your dog, and honored him after his death. He had 14 years filled with love and family. That will need to be your focus while you grieve.
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