After a tragic accident resulted in the death of his dog, Ryan Brand was determined to spread an important message about the dangers of suffocation to dogs. Brand has arrived Facebook to tell a heartbreaking story about her beloved dog of eight years, Hippo. According to his post, one day Brand came home from work and expected his best friend to give him a warm welcome. Instead, he went home to discover that Hippo had suffocated after burying his head in the chip bag.
Instead of seeking sympathy and condolences, Brand wrote what he really wanted to do was share his story with other dog owners. he wrote,
“I am sharing this in hopes of preventing the same thing from happening to other dogs. After a quick Google search, I found out that this is not the freak accident I initially thought.”
Too many dogs (and cats) have suffered the same fate as Hippo. Dogs looking for mid-day snacks steal empty bags of chips from the trash or snatch them off the counter only to find themselves stuck with the bag on their heads. It doesn’t matter how big or small the dog is or how strong they are, many people struggle to get to the bag. They don’t have thumbs to remove the bag from their head, and when they panic, their rapid breathing creates a vacuum inside the bag. The air in the bag is depleted in seconds and the carbon dioxide level rises. They eventually run out of air and die of suffocation.
When Brand went to work that day, he was unaware of the dangers associated with the chip bag he left outdoors. Based on Preventive Veterinarian90% of pet owners who lose their pet to bag-related suffocation are unaware that it can even happen. Brand can’t bring Hippo back, but he can help raise awareness and save countless other dogs. He say,
“I know after reading this, many of my friends and loved ones will want to comment below or contact me. Instead, I challenge you to pass on this message the next time you meet a pet owner. We all keep chocolate out of reach because we know the dangers. If I had known death by chip bags was an obvious thing, this would have been prevented.”
The brand message made all the difference. It was shared nearly 56,000 times on social media, and it started a general conversation about the dangers of suffocation for dogs. Chip bags aren’t the only bags to look out for. Grain bags, pet food bags, pet food bags, and bread bags all contribute to dog deaths. Always keep safe bags out of reach of pets. And share this message in memory of Hippo.
Featured photo sources: Facebook / Brand Ryan
