HELP PREVENT PET SUFFOCATION –PLEASE KEEP FORWARDING AND SHARING

HELP PREVENT PET SUFFOCATION – PLEASE KEEP FORWARDING AND SHARING

Sadly, “Molly” Mooney a female 8 year old Dalmation/Hound mix from Bayside Queens, a best friend, a partner, a pet, a families heart and soul was found dead on her owners bed Saturday,

May 10th , 2014. Molly was found with a cereal box stuck around her head, Molly suffocated.

Chip bags and other food packaging pose serious suffocation risks to our pets. Too many pets, especially dogs, have died from suffocating in chip bags, cereal boxes, pet treat bag liners, and dog food and cat food bags. A lot of these bags are made from a strong mylar-like material (like a balloon) which helps keep snacks fresher. 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. As he tries to breathe, the bag tightens around his neck, cutting off the oxygen. When a dog cannot remove the bag from his head, he will usually start to panic, desperately running around until he collapses and dies from asphyxiation, often losing his bowels, as well. This happens within minutes.

We can reduce the number of accidental pet deaths by educating the public on the dangers of these types of bags. Most people do not know that these mylar bags are a suffocation hazard to their animals. The more people are aware of this risk, the more pet owners can do to ensure their pet is safe. Many a pet owner has arrived home or walked into another room of the house and found their dog lying motionless with a chip bag or other type of bag on his head.

What you can do to help:

* Keep all chip bags and food bags safely stored away from your dog's reach.
* Tear or cut up all chip bags and food bags after use.
* Keep all trash can lids tightly fastened, locked, or behind a cabinet, especially in the kitchen.
* Keep kitchen pantry door closed.
* Learn CPR for pets.
* Do not allow your pets to roam freely in the house while you are away.
* Alert all your friends and family about the suffocation dangers of bags.