A woman from Melbourne has issued a stark warning to dog owners after her French bulldogs died from heatstroke while under the care of a dog sitter.
Jasminka Hewitt penned a piece for Mamamia, warning dog owners not to be complacent when it comes to protecting your dogs in the heat.
She and her partner David were at a friend’s birthday party and had left their beloved French bulldogs Hank and Dita with a dog sitter who “absolutely adored” the dogs.
The sitter then called to say the dogs had both taken sick at the park and were at the vets in an emergency condition.
The vets suspected the dogs were suffering from heatstroke and were working to lower their temperature.
“The drive to emergency was the longest hour of my life and I cried the entire way, frantically googling heat stroke in dogs and the rate of survival. I also messaged a friend of mine who is a vet and told her what had happened,” she said.
Hank and Dita
Tragically, by the time the couple arrived at the vet clinic, Dita was already slipping away. Both dogs had suffered seizures. Hank was still alive, not conscious but breathing on his own.
They signed the papers for Dita to be euthanised.
The couple were told to go home and wait to be contacted if anything should change but sadly, Hank couldn’t be saved either.
In the emotional post, Jasminka said she know the sitter “would never have harmed them on purpose.But it would never have happened in our care, and that’s what hurts the most. People need to understand the importance of not exercising brachycephalic breeds in the heat.”
Our deepest condolences go out to Jasminka and David for the loss of their lovely pups.
