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| hi, ive been a member here for a couple of years, but mostly i lurk and dont post much. im from cold and snowy northern ontario and ive been composting since my gramma showed me as a child!
a few years ago i switched to a large open bin (i used 4 garbage pallots, with one cut in half for the front. it works really great. i had been using those black cones that our city gave away for free, but they were awkward. i think compost is one of the best things we can do for our environment and our gardens. i was so (i dont know the word) when i learned that all those greens and browns going into the landfill get mixed with the toxins and all become toxic. so, im kinda a nut, i bring bags of compost home from dinner parties of folks who dont compost, i try to convert every one i meet (and have done VERY well) so, whats sad about all that? its the story of my little dog teddy. we live in the city and our dogs are on a long line when they want to go outside. it was mid-spring last year. all frozen winter long i dump buckets of greens into my open bin and when it thaws in the spring i start mixing it in and adding lots of last years leaves. it was a warm day and i went out and just dug around and mixed up all the winters stuff. it had started to decompose and was quite stinky. somehow my little dog got off his line and into the compost. i didnt think much of it except that his feet stank. but the next few days he started acting 'off'. i really didnt know what was wrong till he had blood in his stool. i brought him to the vet and just didnt know what was wrong. i mentioned that he had gotten into ripe compost and thats when i learned the horrible thing. apparently its really high in nitrogen at that point and unless vomiting is induced immediately the dog has about a 50% chance of surviving. they had another dog who had passed away from the same thing at the vets office. teddy didnt die in pain, his systems just shut down and he passed away. i had no idea something so wholesome and healthy and good would be poisonous like that. i just wanted to share this story for any of you who may not of known this. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by berryman135678 (My Page) on Fri, Mar 25, 11 at 11:34
| Sorry to hear. My dog loves compost and pukes all over when he eats it. When I turn or empty my compost I have to put up cages around the ones he can get to. Even if he cant get in the composter, he licks the outside. Then after a few days he leaves them alone until I turn it again. |
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| I'm very sorry about Teddy. I have always been pretty careless regarding my dog and her compost eating hobby. Thank you for sharing your sad lesson. My dog came very close to dying once after she found a dead mouse in a five gallon bucket of water and carried it around for an hour or two. Her kidneys and liver shut down from bacterial infection and she very nearly died. It's a hard job to keep them safe. My sympathy, Lizzie. |
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| I appreciate you posting this warning also. I also have been careless about my dog and the compost. I had no idea it could be dangerous. Like you, I live in the frozen north so my method is similar. I guess I should find some way of covering my bin to deter any possible foraging by my dog. I'm sorry for your loss, but by posting this you have probably saved others the same grief. |
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| thank you. i sure hope it helps. i had no idea it could be deadly. i think for my poor teddy it was the timing of his compost eating being so green and ripe. |
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- Posted by juntawillow 5 (My Page) on Fri, Mar 25, 11 at 13:17
| So sorry to hear of your story. Know that Teddy is watching over you and your garden(s) and will bring you wonderful memories. |
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- Posted by heirloomjunkie 5a (My Page) on Fri, Mar 25, 11 at 13:39
| :( Sorry to hear about this too! That's terrible. I caught my lab eating it a time or two. But managed to shoo her away in time. I wonder what it is that is so harmful? I've also heard of people being sickened by the bacteria in the air that gets into the body. So important to wear some kind of mask if you're prone to problems. |
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- Posted by darth_weeder z7 NY (My Page) on Fri, Mar 25, 11 at 13:44
| sorry to hear about your dog with all the things pets can get into, I wouldn't have thought compost was something to worry about except for the mess. Thanks for the warning |
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- Posted by mustard_seeds 4 -Onalaska Wisconsi (My Page) on Fri, Mar 25, 11 at 17:23
| I am so sorry to hear about your sweet dog. I will keep my compost bins covered since we have a dog next door who could get curious. |
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- Posted by lisascenic (My Page) on Sat, Mar 26, 11 at 23:12
| I'm so sorry to hear this. |
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| Wow...that's so sad, Lizzie. So sorry to hear about Teddy. I've often wondered if there were any concerns about my dog getting into the compost pile, apart from her creating a mess. I will be a lot more cautious and think about Teddy as I set up some more protection around my composting area. Best, Don |
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| Oh no... That's really too bad. Thank you for sharing your story. I had no idea about this danger and am grateful for the warning. I'll try to keep my three woggles from eating the garden compost. Rest in peace, Teddy. We will really miss you. -Paul |
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| I'm so sorry to hear that, and thank you for the warning. I'm just getting started w/ composting and was wondering where I should put the bin. Now I will be sure to place it somewhere my two Labs can't get to it. The older dog's nickname is "You Who Eats Poo" because he'll eat, well, anything. |
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