Cyanobacteria Bloom In NC Pond Kills Family's Three Dogs Within Hours Of Each Other

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WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A hot summer evening in Wilmington was made a little cooler for three dogs when their loving owners brought them to a nearby pond to play and swim Thursday night. Just hours later — all three dogs were dead, their owners’ lives now shattered.

“Our dogs were everything," said Melissa Martin and Denise Mintz. "We had two Westies, they were both therapy certified. And then we had Harpo — he was going to be seven this year. He did a lot of stuff in the community. I mean we just took them here last night and let them play and it ended up in all three of them dying because of something called blue green algae that we’ve never even heard of.”

After playing in the water in a Pond off of Independence Boulevard, the dogs were at home when one of the Westies started acting strange. Martin assumed she had been bitten by something and brought her to the Animal Emergency and Trauma Hospital of Wilmington. Soon after, the other two dogs were there as well. Seizing and showing signs of liver failure. All three dogs died just after midnight Friday.

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Their sudden and tragic deaths were caused by blue-green algae. According to Blue Cross for Pets, the term is used to describe a group of bacteria not visible to the naked eye unless clumped together. The website, linked in an email sent to pet owners at one local veterinary office, says the blooms are most common in non-flowing fresh water-like lakes or ponds, and is more common during hot weather when there is less rainfall. According to the website, the algae blooms can produce harmful toxins which stop a dog’s liver from functioning properly. Exposure to this toxic algae is often fatal, as it was in the case of Abby, Izzy, and Harpo. Dogs can be exposed to the bacteria by drinking it directly or indirectly in instances of licking their fur after being around the bacteria.

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https://www.wect.com/2019/08/09/warning-pet-owners-toxic-algae-kills-three-dogs-matter-hours/?fbclid=IwAR2ZHd7j4qJHblr1QY0GnQfYt-T5R_mZ-hOUvXdmbS1DT2C8mMX92bzyLOo

[msongs]

1. gee no mention if this stuff will kill you or maybe your children nt

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2. Can't spook the horses!!

Especially if they're considering real estate purchases in southern coastal areas . . .

[WePurrsevere]

3. Definitely a danger for humans, especially children...

And it looks like it can happen anywhere when warm.

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/blue-green-algae-and-its-dangers-dogs

Is blue-green algae a health risk to humans?
Yes, blue-green algae can cause skin rashes, sickness, stomach pains, fever and headaches in humans. There have been some reports of more serious illnesses including liver and brain damage. Children are at greater risk than adults. Don’t drink from or enter this water.

If you think you have spotted blue-green algae in water and cannot see any signage, report it to the Environment Agency who can investigate.