09/06/2019
Supposedly this was already posted here but don’t see it...please be careful out there! This is so sad...
UPDATES (Friday 4pm - 9/5/19):
Message from the Oregon Health Authority:
Hi Oregon Weimaraner Rescue—I am Julia Hakes from the Oregon Health Authority. We are very sad to hear about the death of Nutmeg after playing at Sellwood Riverfront Park. We’ve reached out to City of Portland Parks and Recreation and they will be posting educational signage about cyanobacterial blooms and how owners can reduce their pet’s exposure. The city is planning to post at the riverfront parks on both sides of the Willamette in this area. We hope the signage will help people to look out for any signs of a bloom before they or their pets go into the water. This information should be used no matter where you and your pet may recreate in open water as blooms can form on any water body.
Message from Portland Parks & Recreation:
Dog lovers - please know that the Oregon Health Authority just reached out to us at Portland Parks & Recreation within the past hour. They asked us to post their educational signs about possible algae and its potential dangers, and of course we have readily agreed. They’ll go up tomorrow morning, ASAP. While the City has no jurisdiction IN the river, we of course recognize that people and pets may access the water from adjacent parks, and are committed to being good partners and neighbors by readily agreeing to post the State's warning signage.
🚩PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT🚩: It is with heavy hearts that we inform our followers that sweet Nutmeg, adopted 10/2018, passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 1st following a family trip to the Willamette River at Sellwood Park. After suffering a seizure both at the park and another on the way to emergency veterinary care she was gone within hours of being in the water showing signs consistent with exposure to toxic algae. Since her passing we have learned that Nutmeg’s death occurred two weeks after another dog at the same park died under very similar circumstances. At this time the Oregon Health Authority is referring to these as “unconfirmed cases” of toxic algae poisoning and the city of Portland, who owns the park, will not be posting signs warning of a risk unless/until water test results show the conclusive presence of the toxic algae (tests are apparently being run). At this moment there is no causal relationship between the deaths and visiting the Willamette River at Sellwood Park but we would encourage anyone visiting this area with their pets to exercise extra caution and vigilance if not avoid it entirely. Toxic blue green algae is deadly to dogs in very small doses.
Understandably Nutmeg's family, especially the kids, have been crushed by the entire experience but wanted to share their story in case it helps others avoid Nutmeg's untimely fate.
Please research toxic algae if you plan to visit waters in these waning summer days:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/algae-poisoning
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/RECREATION/HARMFULALGAEBLOOMS/Pages/index.aspx
