Dog dies after visit to beach where others got ill

A woman has described how her dog died less than 24 hours after visiting a beach where a number of pets have fallen ill this year.

Alexandra Tipping, 45, said Badger, a five-year-old springer spaniel, had a number of seizures after leaving Llansteffan Beach in Carmarthenshire, and died the next morning.

Several pet owners have reported their dogs becoming ill after visiting the beach, but the cause of the apparent sickness is still unknown.

Carmarthenshire council and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said they were aware of reports of dogs becoming sick, but that no source of harm had been found, while Welsh Water said it had not had any contact from customers about issues in the area.

Mrs Tipping, from Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, took Badger and her other dog Ida to the beach on 24 March.

Ida stayed with her, while Badger ran on ahead to explore part of the beach that had rock pools.

"It was low tide, so some of the rock pools we haven't seen before were open for Badger to go into - he's a bit more adventurous than Ida so I let him go ahead," Mrs Tipping said.

She said she did not see Badger eat anything, and that the "beach looked like it should".

They spent a few hours at the beach and began driving back in the afternoon, and it was on the return car journey that Badger became unwell.

"In the boot of the car I heard a thump, and it must have been Badger falling to the ground," she said. "When I stopped he was lying on his back and his tongue was out, but he was still breathing."

Mrs Tipping said she took Badger to the local vet, when he started having seizures, which was initially put down to heat stroke, but they kept happening.

He was then taken to a different vet in Swansea, and despite being giving medication died early the next morning "not even 24 hours after we arrived at the beach".

Mrs Tipping said she had seen other reports of dogs getting ill after visiting the beach on a local Facebook page, as well as warnings from local vets.

"My biggest concern is, there have been a number of other dogs who have gotten ill after visiting the beach, and I don't want this to continue happening," she said.

"Lots of families and dog walkers visit that beach, and I don't want this happening to other dogs or families."

"What's frustrating is we don't know for certain what it is."

Carmarthenshire council said it had become aware of concerns raised by the public, and that it was urging dog owners to be vigilant.

It urged people to be aware of Hemlock, a "poisonous plant that produces umbrella-like clusters of white flowers" in summer.

The plan can be found in damp places, such as ditches, riverbanks and waste ground, the council said, adding that it is unlikely to be found in exposed areas like beaches "unless its roots are washed up on shore".

A spokesperson for NRW said: "We have received a number of reports of dogs becoming sick after visiting Llansteffan Beach in Carmarthenshire, however there have been no reports of pollution.

"Our environment officers have carried out a visual inspection of the beach trying to identify any potential source of harm but none has been found."

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: "Our storm overflows in this area have not spilled since storm conditions at the beginning of March.

"We have not had any contact from customers on this issue."