Posted on 01/31/2015 10:21:40 AM PST by GSWarrior
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (Calif.) - A third dog died Thursday after exposure to toxic algae at an East Bay park, and broken-hearted dog owners say the park district's warnings have been too little, too late.
"It's this green algae that's everywhere, it's fatally toxic to dogs, "warned Katie Stone, intercepting hikers at the Lake Chabot marina Friday evening.
"She was healthy as can be, I walked her about five miles every day, " Stone says sadly, showing a snapshot of her five year old chocolate Labrador, Josie.
"It's completely unbelievable, it was like a nightmare, like when am I going to wake up" Stone told KTVU, describing how she walked Jose Wednesday afternoon and a few hours later, Jose was overcome by vomiting, seizures, and an irreversible coma.
"It's a tremendous shock," Stone said sadly, "our kids are teenagers, and they're devastated by it."
The 300 acre Lake Chabot is showing a green tint, from blue-green algae that's blooming because conditions are unusually warm and dry. Without rain flushing the lake, the toxic algae is flourishing.
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxdetroit.com ...
We get occasional warnings about it here in Michigan. I try to keep my dogs from drinking out of the lake by keeping a couple bowls of water out in the yard during the summer.
“This lake is just southeast of Oakland and is popular hiking, biking and camping area.”
I’ve gone kayaking there when the duck $hit on the dock was so deep you needed waders. No wonder the algae is there. The EBRP District can afford a LEO Group complete with a new helicopter, but they don’t have the money to keep the lake clean!
Madistan is exactly like that with our lakes and algae blooms! Multiple warnings all summer long to STAY OUT OF THE LAKES.
They’ve got money for every social need out there, and anything that PROMOTES Socialism, but to take care of something that makes it attractive to LIVE here, as well as benefitting ALL - no dice. Jerks.
I’m so sorry to read about the doggies, of course. I lost my Yellow Lab (only 6!) to kidney failure a year ago. I’m still mad! A terrible waste of a perfectly good dog. :(
I don’t know about a 300 acre lake but there are treatments for pond algae that are not regarded as being environmentally damaging. A runoff pond near my mom had a problem with red algae for several years during dry weather, it’s gone now. Stocking with certain species of fish can help, for instance grass carp. They’re crazy, leaping out and slapping the surface, they’ll scare you out on a walk and really go at it with a boat motor, but they keep the green “snot” algae gone so people put up with the behavior.
Katie Stone, I’m so very sorry for the loss of your Josie.
That’s what I love about FR — the caring and compassion for our fellow man.
Sheesh, man. Go have another espresso. You are miserable and heartless.
It has to be heart-breaking, Labs love the water so and she was out doing what they no doubt always did. It just doesn’t occur to people that something as seemingly benign as algae in the water could kill their dogs. Having had a very beloved Lab myself for over 14 years that I still miss, I’m very sorry for her loss as well.
I know the area, I know the mindset.
Don’t eat yellow snow or drink green water.
In this day and age, isn’t there some known natural green algae eating plankton or fish or snail or something that could take care of the problem?
OTOH, “going Green” appears to be toxic to the environment, so all the green people out there....beware! you’re killing something.
Let me clarify that I am not indifferent to the loss of a pet. However this is lib central. If their kid ate a handfull of dirt and died, they’d demand the government sterilize all dirt. That’s how crazy they are.
“I’m so sorry to read about the doggies, of course. I lost my Yellow Lab (only 6!) to kidney failure a year ago. I’m still mad! A terrible waste of a perfectly good dog. :(”
I know what you mean. It’s too bad that our dogs lifespans are not more nearly like ours. Our Golden Doodle is now 8, and she’s the best of a long line of really good dogs we’ve had over the years. I just hope somehow we get to have her for another 8 years. We learn so much about “ how to love” from our dogs. They are a blessing!
“That’s what I love about FR — the caring and compassion for our fellow man.
Sheesh, man. Go have another espresso. You are miserable and heartless.”
He’s also wrong about the price of homes in Orinda. $1.2 million there gets you a place with a crescent on the door!!! Plus, it;s “polluted” with a lot of professors from Berzerkeley. Trust me, years ago when there was only one high school in the area we had to go to school with their “offspring.”
“Let me clarify that I am not indifferent to the loss of a pet. However this is lib central. “
Wrong again, Lake Chabot is actually in Castro Valley, and it is very hard to get to directly from Orinda. Our son lives in Castro Valley and it is NOT a bastion of liberalism as you are suggesting.
Fifi died from drinking stagnant water. Get over it.
How many of these folks have septic systems abutting the lake?
I don’t think there are any homes bordering the lake.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.