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.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

This is tragic....I am heart sick over this. Those poor babies not understanding what was happening. I feel awful for everyone involved.

I am such a helicopter Mom and I just can't help it, with stories like this I always will be one.

[Bonnie and Kona]

So much heartache. Thank you for letting us know, Karen. Praying for the family as they grieve this loss. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

Oh, how horrible--I am so so sorry they had to face this tragedy--I have never heard of this happening--I do keep an eye on my dogs but will be even more vigilant now--when I was 20 years younger, (I am almost 58 now) I used to open the back door and let my dog out--no fence or anything--my dogs were pretty good about it, but definitely left the yard. Now I wonder about who that person was--I can't imagine doing that today--helicopter mom it is!

[Karen & Lucy]

What a freaky accident.  A sad day for sure.  My heart breaks for all

[Sheila & Finnley]

OMG, So sad ! A horrible and tragic story. It happened once to our family's miniture schnauzer when I was a teenager. Our neighbor's dachshund always came over to play. One day our schnauzer got her mouth caught on his collar. We had to cut the collar off from him and a tragedy was averted. It was so scary and I'll never forget it.

I hope this poor owner will be able to forgive him or herself, and know it was just a freak accident. I will definitely say a prayer for all.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

My heart is breaking for everyone involved. Very sad tonight.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh what a horrible tragedy.  This almost happened with Guinness and Murph right in the house.   They were playing in the other room and Guinness's mouth got caught on Murphy's collar.  Murph came running to me with Guinness literally hanging off of him.  Then it took a few seconds for me to even get his collar unbuckled....it was horrible and if I wasn't right there Guinness would have strangled.  Now there are no collars ever if they have any opportunity to be playing.  My heart is so sad for this Doodle, his brother and the entire family.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am so very sorry to hear about this tragedy. How very sad and traumatic for all concerned.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

My heart is breaking for all involved!  A sad lesson.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Oh my goodness, this makes me so sad. I know how scary this can be and how it can happen in a heartbeat. This is a good reminder to me to take off Fudge's collar when they are outside. I am so sorry for this family and all involved. I feel very badly for the Golden Retriever, because I remember how panicked Vern was when his mouth got stuck on Fudge's collar.

[Camilla and Darwin]

This is so, so horrible. Definitely a good reminder for us to be constantly watchful.

[Kim]

:( so sad.