Laura Henderson was forced to cancel work, errands, and everything in between
A woman has revealed the bizarre moment her dog accidentally swallowed her car key — leaving her stranded for three days and relying on neighbours for help, all while obsessively watching her dog’s toilet trips. Laura Henderson, from Pontypridd, shared her story after the unexpected key disappearance brought her week to a halt.
The drama began on the evening of Wednesday, April 16, when Ms Henderson returned home from work and placed her Fiat 500 key on the side table as usual. Later that night, she realised it had vanished.
“I checked the table, my pockets, under the sofa — I thought maybe I’d just misplaced it,” she told Show Plates World.
But by Thursday morning, when she needed to leave for work and still couldn’t find the key, panic set in. Get the latest Ponty news first by signing up to our newsletter here.
She said: “I was running late, had no spare, and then noticed Lola, my dog, sniffing around her bowl. That’s when I started to piece it together.”
The missing item was a slim, single metal key, not part of a larger fob — making it easier to miss and much easier to swallow.
The 39-year-old said: “We think it must’ve fallen off the table into Lola’s food bowl. Let’s be honest — no dog just eats a key for fun, but if it had a bit of gravy on it, who knows?”
With no spare key and the car completely out of use, she called her vet, who advised her to monitor Lola for signs of distress but otherwise wait it out.
Between Thursday and Saturday, Ms Henderson remained grounded — cancelling work, errands, and everything in between.
“I had to follow her around every time she went outside. I've never been so invested in… the other end of a dog,” she said.
On Saturday, April, 19, the mystery was solved when the key finally reappeared — scratched, but intact.
“It was disgusting, but I honestly didn’t care. I just cleaned it, tested it… and then ordered a backup key immediately,” Ms Henderson said.
According to vets, small metal objects like car keys can sometimes pass safely through a dog’s digestive system, though it’s not without risk. Owners are always encouraged to seek advice immediately and monitor closely for signs of obstruction.
Ms Henderson says she’s learned her lesson — and her keys now live well out of reach.
“They’re up on a wall hook now. Lola’s quick, but not that quick,” she added.
A spokesperson for Show Plates World added: “Laura’s story is an unusual one — but it’s a reminder that car keys can disappear in the most unexpected ways.
Whether it’s due to pets, misplacement, or general bad luck, not having a spare can throw your whole week off. We always recommend drivers keep a backup key stored safely and well out of reach of curious paws.”
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