Would You Rather Be a Helicopter Mom or Have a Dead Doodle?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I heard a very sad story today. A beautiful doodle who was adopted from the DRC died yesterday while in his fenced backyard with his Golden Retriever brother.

The two dogs were alone in the yard for about 30 minutes. When the owner went to call them in, she found them lying together, the Golden's mouth caught in the doodle's collar.  Whether the doodle choked to death or his neck was broken by his frantic brother trying to free himself, we don't yet know. The owner is heartbroken, as are his former foster mom and the entire DRC family.

Please, everyone, supervise your dogs when they are in the yard. A fenced yard is a wonderful thing, but it doesn't prevent all tragedies. A little bit of overprotectiveness can be a very good thing.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Oh my gosh.. what a horrible, horrible, horrible shame..... So many people leave their dogs out all day long without so much as a thought.......

When Jack and Molly are alone together in the house..their collars come off... We are a no collar in the house family and never in the crate.... 

I hate those stupid collars... This poor family.. that poor doodle... what a horrible way to die..  I don't even think it is so unreasonable to leave two dogs to play outside in a fenced in yard for a half hour... anyone of us could do that.

I look back now and think of Jack at day care with all those other dogs with collars on. I never allowed him to wear a collar until I had to when he was just over a year old..... 

My heart and prayers for all involved... I am for sure a helicopter mom. Jack scratched his ears a few times the last few days.. I felt like a fool but I brought him in... sure enough an ear infection.

Even helicopter mom's can miss something but it sure helps to be aware of the tragic events.. In nursing school we had a professor tell us of every mistake she ever heard of made either by a nurse or a doctor...it was scary and depressing, much like this story, but it will for sure be something in your mind the next time you open a door and let your dogs out to play with collars on and if that saves a life it is worth us being unsettled hearing the story 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

What a tragedy for all concerned.  Thoughts and prayers go out to the Doodle, the Golden, the family, and all the DRC members who work so hard to give these Doodles wonderful homes!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

This just breaks my heart, Karen.  What a horrible accident for this family! : (

[Carol and Banjo]

OMG.....I was afraid to even read this Karen....and it's more horrible than I even imagined.   So sad.   : (       Thank you, Karen for sharing this.....an incredibly important reminder to all.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's a sad day for the DRC family, between this and now poor Finn being so sick.

The first thing I thought of when I heard this was Adina's recent discussion about a close call of the same kind with Rosco and Boca. It can happen so fast, and we can't always be out there with them every minute. But they do need to be supervised outdoors.

The collar issue remains a tough one. There are some suggestions in Adina's discussion re: breakaway collars, etc.

Very sad, and something to think about.

 

 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

but this could have just as easily happened indoors.  No matter how vigilant you are, it is impossible to supervise your dogs every second of every day.  We either leave our dogs collar free or put them in breakaway collars unless we are going out for a walk or ride, but even then, there is no guarantee that they won't have some other accident when we are away at work.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I guess you just have to try to dog-proof the house as much as possible. I do know some people who crate their dogs when they aren't home just for this reason. I think there is more danger with multiple dogs in a house.

I am thinking hard about what could happen to JD alone in the house without a collar to catch on anything. No food within reach, no loose cords or wires anywhere he can get to, no dangerous chemicals within his reach, all socks, etc. put away, he is not the type of dog who ever ate a non-food item since I've had him anyway, and he's not real active indoors, especially when no one's home. So I think he's pretty safe, but as you say, there are no guarantees.  I think you just have to try to do the best you can, just like with your kids. Being aware of potential dangers is important, though.

 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

This is so scary... definitely going to start taking Luna's collar off when she wrestles with her friends in the house.  I can't do that when she plays with friends in the park though - maybe I should look into a breakaway collar.

Luna is the same as JD - doesn't eat non-food items.  She has been known to steal some non-food items (like toilet paper rolls, stray flyers/newspapers), but she just shreds them she doesn't eat them.  Her collar is off anytime we're not home and thankfully she has zero interest in anything but watching out the windows/doors and sleeping when we're not around.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

When she plays with friends in the park, she's being supervised, so I think the danger there is pretty low.

[Sue Robin F]

What is wrong with Finn?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This Finne is a puppy that Jacquie's mom adopted recently; Adrianne posted a discussion about it. He is very ill and in intensive care, from complications from a lepto vaccine.

[Sue Robin F]

Thanks Karen ... I just located the post about him and am praying for him