Winter Can Pose Hidden Dangers For Pets
Snow Can Hide Dangerous Objects
POSTED: 6:08 pm EST January 6,
2009
UPDATED: 6:48 pm EST January 6,
2009
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EASTON, Mass. -- Winter poses many challenges for local pet owners, including dangers that can’t be seen under the snow.
Pet Owners Warned Of Hidden Winter DangersNewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported that's a particular problem for people walking their dogs. And when trouble strikes, help can be very hard to come by."All of a sudden I heard this blood-curdling scream, and Max fell to the ground," dog owner Betsy Gold said.Gold was walking her English Labrador in Easton's Borderland Park on New Year's Eve when he jumped on a metal object."It was in the snow and completely covered. He was romping in the snow, and this impaled him," Gold said. "It easily could have been a child or a smaller dog that wouldn't have survived."Max spent five days in the hospital after enduring a three-hour surgery. Gold launched a Web site warning other dog owners about hidden dangers.Rangers said there are a lot of artifacts in the Easton park area that are likely from an old farmhouse on the property. They said in general, there are a lot of potential dangers in any wooded area."It's also an area posted as 'Dogs On Leash' area. That's to protect people, but also to protect the animal from things that can harm," said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Rick Sullivan.The state said it has a plan to clean up artifacts from the park and points out that the off-leash area is behind the farmhouse.Gold said she was frustrated that she could not get any help as her dog was bleeding."My girlfriend called 911, but they would not come to rescue a dog," she said. "There's no animal rescue in this state."Most animal control officers work limited hours, and the incident happened on a holiday.Max is expected to make a full recovery.
Pet Owners Warned Of Hidden Winter DangersNewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported that's a particular problem for people walking their dogs. And when trouble strikes, help can be very hard to come by."All of a sudden I heard this blood-curdling scream, and Max fell to the ground," dog owner Betsy Gold said.Gold was walking her English Labrador in Easton's Borderland Park on New Year's Eve when he jumped on a metal object."It was in the snow and completely covered. He was romping in the snow, and this impaled him," Gold said. "It easily could have been a child or a smaller dog that wouldn't have survived."Max spent five days in the hospital after enduring a three-hour surgery. Gold launched a Web site warning other dog owners about hidden dangers.Rangers said there are a lot of artifacts in the Easton park area that are likely from an old farmhouse on the property. They said in general, there are a lot of potential dangers in any wooded area."It's also an area posted as 'Dogs On Leash' area. That's to protect people, but also to protect the animal from things that can harm," said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Rick Sullivan.The state said it has a plan to clean up artifacts from the park and points out that the off-leash area is behind the farmhouse.Gold said she was frustrated that she could not get any help as her dog was bleeding."My girlfriend called 911, but they would not come to rescue a dog," she said. "There's no animal rescue in this state."Most animal control officers work limited hours, and the incident happened on a holiday.Max is expected to make a full recovery. Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
