DOG OWNERS in Tameside have been warned to be extra vigilant near rivers and canals after an animal needed emergency treatment to remove three fishhooks.
Anglers have also been asked not to discard them as they can cause injury.
Molly, an 11-year-old Labrador cross, yelped in pain and had to be rushed to Tameside Veterinary Clinic in Ashton-under-Lyne in agony after getting one caught in her lip and two in the pads of her paws while visiting Daisy Nook Country Park, just over the border with Failsworth.
Now senior vet Gillian Laing and owner Linda Johnson have joined forces to warn people of the dangers of fishhooks to try to prevent future injuries.
They are also appealing to anglers visiting the river and canal at the country park not to discard them.
Gillian said: “Although Molly’s injuries were superficial, she was in a lot of pain and it was a very distressing situation.
“We had to sedate her as she wouldn’t let us touch her paw because of the pain.
“Because the fishhooks have barbs, you have to be extremely cautious removing them and I would urge dog owners not to attempt to do this as it can make things so much worse.
“We had to make a small incision in her lip and paw to lift the hooks out under sedation.
“Fishhooks cause nasty, painful injuries so it is important that dog owners are cautious when walking near waterways, but we’d also urge anglers to take fishhooks home and dispose of them appropriately, so dogs, wildlife and children don’t end up being hurt and distressed.”
After Molly was rushed to the Oldham Road practice, Gillian had to sedate the dog to remove the hooks from delicate parts of her body and prevent further damage to her skin.
She was on a long walk when she picked up an angler’s fishhook ball and spring, before getting a hook stuck in her lip and two in her paw.
Linda and husband Alan, who live in Ashton, received a phone call from the friend who was walking Molly.
While Linda called Tameside Vets to ask them to prepare for an emergency, Alan rushed to the scene to carry Molly to the car as she could not walk.
Linda recalled: “We got a real shock and Molly was in so much pain and very distressed. It was very upsetting, and we don’t want other dogs and their owners to go through this.
“Other people’s pets, wild animals and children are at risk, so it is important that anglers pick up the fishhooks instead of discarding them and dispose of them safely.
“The Tameside Vets team responded so well to the emergency and really looked after her. She has recovered well and is none the worse for the experience thankfully.”