!!!!!DANGEROUS!!!!! Ball Games Please Read

[Carol and Banjo]

Shortly after we got Banjo and I began posting pics of him on FB, I got  a message from a friend of my cousin, who saw my pics.   She introduced herself and said she'd fallen in love with my pics and would I mind if she asked me a "million questions" about him, about the breed, etc.     We quickly struck up a friendship and subsequently, she ended up with 2 Doodles.    She's a lovely, sweet lady and I love hearing about her "boys" and their antics.     I was shocked and devastated to get the following message from her the other morning.     We've been in constant contact since and I asked her if she would be alright with me sharing her message here.   She asked me to, hoping that it might save someone the heartache that she is now experiencing.

Hi Carol, I wanted to reach out and tell you personally that we've had some really tragic news here. I have not put anything on FB because I am still trying to reconcile it in my mind and my heart.. On Monday, i was playing ball with my amazing and wonderful dogs around lunchtime. My Huey, who is the 'ball king' was running and catching and enjoying every single moment. Sadly, the last ball he caught, got stuck in his windpipe. I saw immediately what happened and ran to help him. I gave him the heimlich several times and i couldnt dislodge it. In a panic I ran to the street, where the paving guys were working and screamed for help. Two men came and tried to heimlich it out also. I called 911, We still had a heartbeat and I could feel the ball in his neck, so i pushed up on the ball from outside and one of the men was able to reach in and get it out. I started CPR with compressions and breathing, but it was too late, and he passed away. We all love this boy so much and we are devastated. I keep replaying it in my mind, even though I know logically I did everything possible, but I still can't believe he is gone.   .........

She was throwing a Chuck it Ball for the dogs.   She bought the recommended size, a large.    She now feels the only safe size would be the XXL.     

This is something I've never, once considered as something that could happen.   Although Banjo is not really into playing catch with balls, I know many of you have ball crazy dogs.     I hope sharing Gena's story makes people aware of a possible danger that they may never have thought of.

[Debbie and Toby]

I am so sorry for your friend's loss.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Thanks for posting this. Neither of our two new pups are ball crazy like Sedona was, but they're still young and may warm up to it as they get older. We'll keep this post in mind. So sorry for your friend.

[Wendy and Myla]

Wow - that's awful!  Myla loves playing ball but she's terrible at it!  She always tries her hardest, but never, ever catches it!  After reading this I guess it's a good thing!  We don't play ball often (mainly because she won't drop it until we walk away) but we do play if she hasn't had enough exercise. Now I think I'll blow bubbles instead!  She loves that and runs all over the place trying to catch them and I know they won't lodge in her throat!  Thanks for posting this!

[Carol and Banjo]

I had to chuckle at that.  Apparently, Myla knows bubbles are more fun!!!

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

Unbelievably sad.  What horror to experience.  Such heartache.  So sorry for her loss.  So Sorry.

[Donna K & Quincy]

How terribly heartbreaking. Quincy is a bit ball obsessed but luckily he's not great at catching although I have clocked him in the head a few times. I'll have to think about getting bigger balls.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

 I had no idea this could even happen when your dog was fetching.  Thank you - and thank her -  for alerting us to this as a possibility.  I am so sorry, please convey my condolences to her. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

So tragic. We have the chuck it balls. Annabelle loves playing with them. We probably have over a dozen. While I don't throw with much force, even with a chuck it, my husband does. She does jump up to try to catch them. I guess now I am happy she is lousy at catching it. She can catch her frisbee, but rarely catches a ball. Thanks for sharing this. My condolences to your friend.

[DJ & Chance]

This is tragic.  Only giant balls for Chance now.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I just can't even imagine, #1 the grief, but #2, how a large Kong ball could get that far down.  I never would have guessed that would happen.  Thank you for warning others to be aware.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I am so sorry for Gena's loss.  Thanks to you and to her for sharing this to alert us to the danger.

Haley has a Chuck It Ultra Large and a Glow Ball Large.  He occasionally gets a ball stuck in his molars.  After reading this tragedy I have ordered the extra large of both balls.  This size is 1/2 inch larger than the large. 

[Gena, Wookie and baby boy coming]

To my dear friend Carol and Banjo,

I can't thank you enough for posting this last fall.  You told our story so beautifully and with compassion and a serious warning.    I have finally gotten to a place where I could write about it.    I will probably never play with a BALL again, that's just my feeling from the trauma.  But I want to be clear that I, in no way at all, blame Chuck it.   I realize this was a freak accident.   Wookie and I play with sticks and rope toys.   

Again,  many thanks for your help in getting the word out to our Doodle friends.  xoxox  

Love you lady!