The City of Moose Jaw has closed its west-end dog parks after one dog died and several others became ill following visits to the small dog park. The parks, located on the 1500 block of High Street W, were locked on the afternoon of June 26 and will remain closed until further notice, said Scott Osmachenko, Moose Jaw’s acting director of parks and recreation, during a news conference on Monday.
Investigation Underway
According to a news bulletin on the city’s website, several dogs that had recently visited the small dog park reportedly became ill and one died. The large dog park adjacent to the small one is also closed. “At this time, a cause of the illnesses has not been determined,” the bulletin states. “The city is actively gathering information through water testing and is working with the veterinarian to better understand what may have contributed to these incidents.”
Precautionary Closure
Osmachenko said the city is awaiting results from water testing and the autopsy of the dog that died. The dog parks were closed “as a precautionary item,” he said. “Safety is just the top concern. We’re just wanting to make sure that all the water samples are clear and safe, and so we just want to do all of our due diligence, do all the testing before we open up a dog park.”
Symptoms and Advice
People who attended the parks with their dogs on June 26 are advised to monitor for symptoms including drowsiness, loss of consciousness, wobbling or falling. If a dog shows such symptoms, owners are encouraged to contact a veterinarian, according to the bulletin. The city continues to gather information and work with veterinary experts to determine what may have caused the illnesses and death.
