Dog suffocates on pet food bag. Bereaved owner wants warnings about the possible dangers

[snagglepuss]

in packaging.

snip

Natalie Burnell hopes to raise awareness among pet owners that any bag — not just one made from Mylar, a metalized polyester — can get stuck on a dog’s head and the animal can panic and may not be able to get it off.

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Bison was left in the basement and managed to grab a bag of cat food (the family has two cats) off a shelving unit and eat the contents, but somehow got his head stuck and probably panicked, Burnell said.

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“I had no idea he could suffocate from these bags. . . . I keep blaming myself for not putting the bag one shelf higher

Burnell since discovered a Facebook page started by another owner whose dog had suffocated after getting stuck in a snack bag. There are many postings from owners who report similar fatalities involving chip and pet food bags.


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People should cut up bags before putting them in the garbage, said Burnell.




http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/06/25/dog_suffocates_on_pet_food_bag.html

[aikoaiko]

1. People too stupid not to know that a plastic bag can suffocate a pet are probably not...

...the type to read the warnings on bags.

[baldguy]

2. Never heard of puppy-proofing the house?

Dog & cat food storage containers start at $5:

http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2767070&categoryId=2767131&lmdn=Category&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2767131&fbc=1&fbn=Taxonomy|Food+Storage+%26+Scoops&fbx=0&OVMTC=Broad&site=&creative=32619496536&OVKEY=pet%20food%20storage%20container&url_id=150250196&adpos=1t3&device=c&devicemodel=&gclid=CI-w8rLahLgCFUOi4AodjTcAFQ

http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2768973&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo&categoryId=2769010&lmdn=Bowls+%26+Feeders&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2769010&fbc=1&fbn=Taxonomy|Food+Storage+%26+Scoops&fbx=0

[AndyA]

3. Pets are like kids--very curious about things.

It's awful that people have lost their pets to suffocation. I probably never would have thought about a bag of cat food being a danger--but I would have known to put it someplace where the dog and the cats couldn't get to it, no matter how hard they tried, because I could envision them ripping the thing open and spreading the food all over the place.

They're just being cats and dogs, and sometimes they get into things they shouldn't.

Not sure a warning is necessary. Would people really read it? Who has time to read all of the warnings on everything brought into the house? It's like the hot coffee warning on cups--if you're that stupid that you don't know it's hot and can burn you, you probably shouldn't be out on your own in public without supervision. Really people...take a little responsibility for yourself.

[Blue Diadem]

4. Years ago I read about one who died from a cereal box bag.

It got into their trash can and the dogs head/face became stuck inside the box/bag. The people came home from work and found their dog dead. Every since then I tie a knot in any bag I'm throwing away so it can't be opened and all our pet food in placed in plastic containers.

[arely staircase]

5. the money quote

“I had no idea he could suffocate from these bags. . . . I keep blaming myself for not putting the bag one shelf higher."

[ohiosmith]

6. Might work if their pets can read!

[leftyohiolib]

7. i have a sump well in my basement and i was so worried about my little corgi falling in

to it while trying to get water that not only did i cover the well but the walled off the room added a door and now keep it closed

[FarCenter]

8. Cats, small dogs, and toddlers can drown in toilets as well

So leave the lid down. Or the lid and seat up.