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She seemed to be in good health when Eric Torres went on a four-year-old golden retriever, Chloe, out for a four-mile walk through the canals of Venice last week.
However, later that day, Torres’ husband called him and became deeply concerned. Something was grossly wrong with Chloe. She collapsed suddenly and began grabbing her on the way to the hospital.
As the couple began to learn, Chloe was not the only neighbor’s dog who suddenly became ill.
Seven dogs from the Venice Canal have died in the past two weeks, and 11 more have been hospitalized with mysterious illnesses, according to a group chat in the neighborhood reviewed by The Times. It was said that everything was healthy before the sudden onset of lethargy, nausea, seizures and other symptoms.
There is a prolific dog culture in the neighborhood, and “second to Paris,” Torres said. The owner of the dog involved was quickly caught up in the action.
Residents of the Venice Canal District posted warning signs after 18 dogs became ill. A third of them have passed away.
(Allen J. Scheven/Los Angeles Times)
Christina Kraus, social media manager for the local nonprofit Venice Canal Association, said the county health department has been notified along with the office of LA Animal Service and City Councilman Traci Park. As they were waiting for an answer from the official, one neighbor spread an online form where others could detail their pet’s daily life, diet and medication.
When Chloe collapsed, Torres and her husband, Michael Hale, took her to a specialist access veterinary hospital in Culver City, where they took a series of tests. Veterinarians checked for marijuana as well as other drugs and potential toxins via blood and urine tests. But all the results were inconclusive, Torres said.
He and Hale were given the option to put Chloe on life support, but Torres opposed the move not to extend her suffering. Chloe passed away a few hours later. The cause cannot be determined.
“We’re still confused by it and I know the vet at [Access Specialty] Torres said. “She was still a very young dog. …We feel like we live in a toxic environment and something is affecting them.”
A few days after Torres refused to do an autopsy, other pets began to show similar symptoms a few days or hours before they suffered the same tragic fate as Chloe.
“My initial reaction was, well [an autopsy] “I’m not going to bring my dog back,” Torres said. …I still have a dog at home. ”
Poor Christina Kraus for Buddy’s dog meets with a neighbor whose pet recently passed away.
(Allen J. Scheven/Los Angeles Times)
Notifications were posted around the neighborhood detailing symptoms, warning other owners to avoid sharing bowls, avoiding canals, and alerting veterinarians if symptoms become apparent.
“People started putting two together and two together,” Klaus said. “We realised very quickly that there were so many deaths in a truly condensed area with really healthy dogs.”
Usually busy canal passages were empty with owners and dogs on Tuesday afternoons. Local business owner Sofia Rochia said fear of pet safety has permeated the community.
“I think people are scared. …I personally haven’t walked the canal in the last few days,” Lokia said. “Even if you just have a dog, have a dog for years and this happens, it’s scary… like losing your family or best friend.”
Regardless of breed, age or level of activity, neighboring dogs are affected by elusive symptoms, Klaus said. She added that neighbors would have had various theories about potential causes without local government assistance.
They wondered if the popular flea drug was the cause, Klaus said. “Someone else told me that algae that made seals sick were growing. …The only common theme was that everyone was walking their dogs on the canal.”
Others delved into the blame. One neighbor informs others that the “snail poison” is spreading near the property and says, “Warning. Protect your pet! Poisonous snail poison. Avoid white powder.”
LA Department of Health employees surrounded the canal Tuesday afternoon, skimming water and “tested, tested and cleaned” the lush algae floating near and below the bridge in response to a nearby complaint, the employee told the Times.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement that it is currently investigating the cause by working with local veterinarians and residents to gather information about “acute onset of severe dog disease.”
“We understand that this can cause pet owners in our community and want to ensure that residents are dealing with this issue as utmost urgently,” the statement said.
However, one vet believes that the answer to the pet owner’s questions is in the canal.
“My guess is that there is a type of cyanobacteria poisoning from algae from the environment,” says Dr. Karen Harrigan, senior veterinarian at Marina Veterinary Center.
Harrigan said this type of bacterial or algae venom (which may be surged in the canal due to fever) can cause vomiting, drooling, weakness, seizures and, ultimately, death.
Without a forensic autopsy, the animal autopsy – the neighbors are left looking for answers and the neighbors are left.
For now, some people have taken a long time to lament their lost loved ones, as they have little information in place.
Jamie Sims, who suddenly passed away last week by six-month-old dog Mackie, is suspended on the bridge she was walking through.
(Allen J. Scheven/Los Angeles Times)
Jamie Simms’ six-month Rottweiler-Husky mix was the youngest case ever reported, Simms said. McKee, alongside senior puppy Rosie, excitedly welcomed the Sims home before Mackie collapsed last Tuesday and suddenly began seizing after a few laps around the house.
Sims rushes her to the hospital, where all the tests prove that Mackie is observably “untouched” despite her condition. The vet sent Sims home, took a break and begged her to come back in the morning.
Half an hour later, Mackie passed away – a veterinarian and family doctor told Sim that she was “probably” suffering from a cerebral aneurysm.
“I started to grieve her, sadden her, and accept that she was only going to come here for six months,” Sims said. “I gave her a truly happy life and she gave me so much joy… I’ve come to accept that it’s for her.”
Before the week was over, another death occurred. Ginger, Taylor Blum’s golden retriever, changed a year ago a few days before he suddenly passed away on Friday. Blum adopted ginger. Because she wanted to be part of Venice’s prolific dog culture.
“I was trying to accept that she probably had a cerebral aneurysm… but that didn’t make any sense,” Brumm said. “Then we saw the flyer. …Now there’s something that finally makes sense.”
Both Sims and Blum said the sense of community loss was obvious, but neighbors gather around those affected to either grieve each other or try to better understand the illness.
“Now I feel that my purpose is to do something about it,” Bramum said.
Public health officials urged residents to closely supervise pets outdoors, chain them, and avoid sniffing or eating what’s inside or around them, according to a statement from the DPH. Veterinarians with relevant information were asked to contact the Veterinary Public Health Program at (213) 288-7060.
Harrigan said the autopsy is a service that can be performed at the root cause of pet death, the Marina Veterinary Center and many other veterinary hospitals at the owner’s request.
Now, Sims is walking to Rosie through concrete alleys in the Venice Canal, trying to avoid areas where officials could prove dangerous if they attempt to reveal their cause.
“I still have a dog. I still need to pee her and go out,” Sims said. “It’s just a ghost town and we have to keep them all safe and understand what’s going on.”
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