As loving dog owners, protecting our dogs is our most important priority.
Their health, happiness, and well-being are in our hands because they cannot take care of themselves. We must look out for hidden dangers that could harm our furry friends, just as we would with small children.
A Hidden Danger
Wasabi fell victim to an unexpected hazard: a bag of pork rinds. His grandmother, Patricia Polacco, shared the heartbreaking story on Facebook:
"My daughter Traci lost her favorite dog Wasabi to this...it was a bag of pork rinds. She had gone to pick something up at a friend's house, hadn't even been gone 10 minutes and her roommate called. He found her by the front door with the bag still on her head... it never even occurred to her that something like this could happen. None of us did!"
"Please spread the word. Chip bags, zip lock bags that contain leftover food, treat bags, yogurt containers, cut them all up!!!! Don't leave them where dogs and cats can get to them. Our hearts are still broken. Thank you."
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More Tragic Cases
Unfortunately, Wasabi's case is not unique.
Another dog, Menja, died from a similar accident. His owner, Shira Reese, told WUSA 9 about the day she found her dog lifeless with a snack bag around his neck:
"I went downstairs and found him lifeless with a Goldfish bag around his neck. By that point, he was already stiff."
A third owner, Debbie Smith, also experienced a similar tragedy with her dog: "[He] started swelling and so on. It was just unbearable. He was my life for ten years. I cried like a baby for days and weeks."
These dogs were simply following their natural instinct: hunger. Their insatiable appetite and curiosity can turn everyday objects into fatal hazards.
Every dog is at risk. It doesn't matter how well trained they are or if they are big or small.
Advice for Dog Owners
To prevent such heartbreaking incidents, dog owners should:
Store snack bags safely: Keep all snack bags, ziplock bags, and food containers out of reach of pets.
Use sealable containers: Store food in sealable containers to keep it fresh and out of reach.
Cut up containers: Before disposing of chip bags, food containers, and similar items, cut them up to prevent pets from getting their heads stuck.
