A dog owner has been describing her "terrifying ordeal" after her pet swallowed two fish hooks hidden in a treat at a popular Welsh park. The Jack Russell needed to have emergency treatment after the hooks were spotted on X-ray in the stomach.
The woman, from Blaenavon, who has asked to remain anonymous, was out for a walk at Castle Meadows, in Abergavenny, on March 27 when her dog found the treat in a grassy area. She is now calling on fellow pet owners to remain "vigilant", when they are taking their dog out and about, adding: "I do not want another dog to go through what mine has."
The woman had visited the area with her friends and their young child for a picnic. After spending several hours at the Meadows, the group were preparing to leave when her dog, excitedly bounding back toward her, appeared to have found something unusual.
"My dog ran back to me with excitement because she found a treat. It was a lot bigger than any treats she normally has, so it took me a few seconds to work out what it was," she said. "As I got her to drop it, the treat broke and she swallowed nearly half of it. That's when I found a hook concealed in the other half.
"The eye of the hooks was hidden in the centre, so there was no way that they could have been attached to a fishing line." She also noted how the incident occurred in the "grassy" area of Castle Meadows, near where cattle are allowed - and far from any water. She noted: "My dog also hates water and doesn't even like puddles and rain so she doesn't even go near the river."
She took her dog to the vet and an X-ray confirmed the worst: two hooks were lodged in her dog's stomach. The veterinary team at Abbey Vets, in Abergavenny, went into action and carried out emergency treatment. "My dog went straight into surgery within the hour of getting to the vets," the woman said. "They had to rush her straight into theatre because of the risk of perforation. We are extremely lucky that the hooks didn't perforate her oesophagus or stomach, as she would be in a much worse situation." Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The dog's recovery is now underway, though she is still on pain medication and antibiotics for 10 days post-surgery. The woman shared: "She's doing well, but its been a long weekend of caring for her. She's so small, I've taken to carrying her up stairs and picking her up to go on the sofa and bed so that she doesn't hurt herself. I also want to add how amazing Abbey Vets were. They were so kind and caring with her, and the nurse who discharged her is an absolute credit to the profession."
In light of the incident, the woman took to social media to warn other dog owners, adding that people need to be "vigilant" as she has heard of other cases elsewhere. "
An RSPCA spokesperson said: "We are very concerned to hear reports that treats may have been left with hooks embedded in them in Abergavenny.
"We very much hope this dog is okay and we are pleased to hear that their owner took them to the vets straight away.
"We’d urge local pet owners to be vigilant and if anyone has any concerns that their pet has consumed something they shouldn’t have, to remain calm, remove their pet from the suspected source, and contact a vet immediately.
"If anyone has first hand information or evidence that this incident was a deliberate act please contact us on 0300 1234 999.
"We share our public spaces with all kinds of animals from pet dogs to wild birds, so we urge everyone to be mindful of every kind to keep our animals safe."
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