A HEARTBROKEN pet lover is sending a strong warning to other owners after his four month old puppy died following a trip to the park.
Boss, a 19-week old staffie, passed away after a trip to the park which is just a few miles from Glasgow's city centre.
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His owner, John Webster, 35, has issued a warning to other dog owners, after his puppy contracted an infection from the pond water.
Mr Webster was on a family walk at Rouken Glen Park, in East Renfrewshire, when Boss ran into the pond.
He was only in the water for a matter of seconds – but it would prove to be fatal to the young puppy.
A week later – Boss collapsed on another walk just a week later, and after a trip to the local vet, was diagnosed with Leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is an infection which can be contracted from water which has been contaminated by urine from animals such as rats.
This caused Boss' lungs to slowly fill with blood, and he had to be put down.
Mr Webster said this left him devastated, and that it had ripped his family apart.
He is urging East Renfrewshire Council to introduce more signs and other warnings, with the park being a popular place for dog-walkers.
He said: “We were training him to walk off the lead. He jumped in and came back out – I thought nothing of it.
“He collapsed about a week later, I had him out a walk and he just started choking and coughing up blood.
“I took him to Pets at Home in Auldhouse, and they did some tests.
“He had Leptospirosis, and his lungs were filling up with blood, we had to put him down – 19 weeks old and he’s gone.
“It’s ripped my family apart, and I’m raging. I have contacted the council and they said they would get back to me in five days, but another dog could die in that time.
“My whole family are now walking around depressed, and no wonder, we only had him for about five weeks.
“The park has no signage pointing out the dangers out entering the water, and the risks to pets of coming into contact with it.
“I feel strongly if there was a sign at the pond I would never had let my dog jump into the water.”
We have contacted East Renfrewshire Council for an official comment.
