A Deadly Bag of Chips: A Warning from Your Neighborhood Pet Sitter
Did you know that a seemingly harmless bag of chips can kill your dog? It’s unfortunate but true. There have been more and more deaths associate with dogs and a bag of chips. Imagine this tragic scene: You come home after work or an evening out only to find your home seemingly ransacked. You see trash strewn about, lamps or decorative items in pieces on the floor. The dog had an accident on the living room floor and he hasn’t greeted you upon arrival as usual. Your initial thought may be something like this: “Oh, Fido….another mess! What did that darn dog get into?” Upon further investigation you find your dog lying on the floor- lifeless, unresponsive. The culprit? An empty bag of chips on your beloved dog’s head. You try to administer CPR but are unsuccessful. That’s exactly what happened to Bonnie Odem Harlan’s and her beloved family dog, Blue.
What went wrong? How did this happen?
It’s not just chip bags. Many bags of cereal, chips, pet treats, dog food and other items are made from a “mylar-like” material. “When a curious dog puts his head into the bag looking for leftover crumbs, the bag creates a vacuum-like seal around the dog’s neck. “ The dog, of course, breathes as he’s trying to reach those crumbs but unfortunately the simple act of breathing in and breathing out causes a vacuum effect which results in the bag closing in around the unsuspecting dog’s neck. The bag tightens more and more as the dog breathes in and out. The dog fights for air and panic sets in. He runs around, knocking things over as he fights for his life. He may even lose control of his bowels. In a matter of minutes, it’s all over. The dog doesn’t stand a chance.
Unfortunately, most people don’t know about the hidden danger a bag of chips is to pets. Awareness needs to be raised and that is exactly what Bonnie Odem Harlan is doing. In memory of Blue, she created a website that exposes this awful hazard. In fact, if you visit Bonnie’s website you can learn some tips on how you can keep your pet safe from this danger. Additionally, join Bonnie in her attempts to get Frito Lay to put a suffocation warning on their chip bags by signing this petition! Help prevent this same tragedy from happening to some other unsuspecting family. It’s heart-breaking.
