When a daily walk turns into a nightmare, it shakes you. That’s what happened to one dog owner in Sunderland.
His two dogs — Müzli and Hershey — were healthy companions who knew nothing of danger.
Yet after a routine walk along a local path, both suffered a shocking collapse that landed them in the vet’s office, poisoned by suspected drug exposure.
It started like any ordinary afternoon. The path between Farringdon and Lakeside Village had been walked many times — nothing remarkable, nothing sinister.
But within hours of one stroll, Hershey began trembling, his head bobbing awkwardly, unable to stand.
Blood work ruled out organ failure, leaving one horrifying conclusion: he likely ingested something harmful, possibly cannabis or methadone.
Then came Müzli’s turn. A few days later, after another walk on the same path, she too collapsed — vomiting, unable to stand, disoriented.
The vets suspected mushroom-based toxins or even stronger opiates like methadone or fentanyl.
For a family already grappling with pain and fear, it was devastating.
Müzli and Hershey are more than pets — they’ve been with this family since they were puppies, raised together, loved and cared for.
The collapse felt like a betrayal by the world they trusted.
“You’re thinking about the money you’re going to have to pay,” the owner said, “but also you think, I don’t care how much — I need my dogs better.”
Miraculously, both dogs are alive and on the mend. The rescue effort was immediate.
Fluids, monitoring, medication — the kind of urgent veterinary care that can save lives if you’re prompt.
“They recommend acting fast,” says a review of drug poisoning in people‑intended drugs — once a dog ingests something poisonous, every minute counts.
But recovery isn’t just about medicine. It’s about vigilance. The owner now warns other pet parents not to take that path — at least, not without caution.
He suggests avoiding areas with litter and unknown waste, or at least keeping dogs on a tight leash and eyes scanning the ground.
Because whether it’s recreational drugs, discarded pills, or contaminated trash — many substances dangerous to humans are exponentially more dangerous to dogs.
According to experts, human medications, opioids, and even leftover drugs can be lethal to pets if swallowed accidentally.
Dogs don’t always survive ingestion. Signs of poisoning can include vomiting, tremors, inability to walk, seizures — symptoms Müzli and Hershey experienced.
The difference between life and tragedy can be just minutes.
Today, this family’s message is loud and clear: watch where your dog goes. Keep them close. Check the ground. Throw away trash properly.
Report suspicious littering. And maybe most importantly — show love by protecting them.
Because walks should be about wagging tails and happy hearts — not emergency vet visits.
Because sometimes the danger isn’t loud, but hidden in plain sight.
And because bridging the gap between heartbreak and healing takes awareness, action, and a community that refuses to let pets become victims of someone else’s recklessness.
