16-05-2025
Why you should keep dogs out of water after couple's beloved pet dies after walk
Hannah May Washington and Jordan Shearman have urged dog owners to be extra careful on walks after the death of tragic Cocker Spaniel Roo.
If you're out on a walk with your dog on a hot day - and they seem to be fairly common at the moment - it's only natural that your furry friend might want to splash into a burn or pond to cool off. And as long as there are no superfast currents or hidden drops, surely they'll be fine, right?
Not necessarily. One couple sadly said goodbye to their beloved pet after a seemingly innocent dook in a lake. And they are warning all dog owners to be careful when around water with their pooches, just in case the worst could happen to them too, Wiltshire Live reports.
Hannah May Washington and boyfriend Jordan Shearman were out in Anton Lankes in Andover, Hampshire, on April 30, 2022, with one-year-old Cocker Spaniel Roo.
Their pup loved splashing around in the water on their regular walks there, but there was something amiss on this trip. The couple said: "We have taken Roo to the lakes many times before, but not so much recently, and did notice that a lot of the areas he would usually swim, was incredibly dirty, much more so than normal, so we didn't spend so much time swimming in those areas, however he did jump in briefly for a lot of them"
Anton Lakes sits just north of Andover, and boasts a river and a lake within its nature reserve. Despite its beauty, it was suspected that there may have been blue-green algae in the water, which is deadly to dogs.
According to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the substance is a type of bacteria which can produce toxic chemicals that are very harmful to both humans and animals. It naturally occurs in lakes, ponds, canals, rivers, and reservoirs.
UKCEH said: "They are particularly a health risk during warm summer months when their concentrations increase in the water to form blooms and scums on the surface. This can look like green or turquoise wispy paint, green scum or clumps of green particles".
Roo's walk seemed to be fairly normal until the pup's eyes appeared a bit droopy towards the end of the trip. The couple said: "We figured he had gotten too much water in his eyes so we decided to end the walk and return to the car".
But on the way home, Hannah "knew straight away something was wrong" as the dog was unsettled and struggling to stand up. They rushed Roo straight to Strathmore Veterinary Clinic.
Hannah said: "While in my arms Roo began to have fits, struggling to breath, foaming at the mouth, it was the worst experience of my life having to hold him, speaking to him, telling him mummy and daddy loved him."
But in the 15 minutes it took to get to the vets, the Cocker Spaniel pup had become worryingly pale and struggling to breathe. His heart then stopped beating and, around 7pm that day, Roo tragically passed away.
Hannah said: "Our worst nightmare had officially happened, our precious, young, baby Roo had lost his life, so suddenly."
The couple, who were 23 and 24 at the time, had just celebrated one year living together in their first home. Speaking about Roo, Hannah said: "He was everything in our lives, quite literally. Our lives, our habits, our plans, revolved around our lovely pup, and so I can't even begin to describe the pain we are in."
Hannah and Jordan shared their story as a warning to dog owners about the dangers of blue-green algae, and how deadly it can be.
Test Valley Borough Council tested the water in the days after Roo's death, issuing a warning to locals to "please keep dogs out of the water" at Anton Lakes.
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At the time, Councillor Phil North said: 'As a fellow dog owner, I was extremely saddened to hear about Roo's passing following a walk at Anton Lakes.
"Although no cause of death has been confirmed with the council, following feedback from the vet we are taking a precautionary approach and are working with the Environment Agency to test the water for blue-green algae.
'This algae occurs naturally in bodies of freshwater but can be potentially dangerous to people and their pets. We are hoping to receive the results of the tests by the end of next week, and while we await the outcome, we are recommending that people and pets stay out of the water. Residents and pet owners can find out more about blue-green algae and its effects via the Kennel Club website.'
In August that year, Miniature Jack Russell Maple also died after a walk at Anton Lakes. The water was tested again and "low levels" of blue-green algae were found.
According to the Kennel Club the effects of blue-green algae on dogs may vary but there are some recognised effects including:
dribbling
tiredness
vomiting and diarrhoea (both of which may be bloody)
effects on the heart and blood pressure
convulsions
problems breathing
organ failure
They add that signs often start within an hour, but may occur within a few minutes, or can sometimes be delayed by a few days. Many cases are life threatening and dogs can die very quickly.
