Hi... thanks for the welcome. I have a maltese named Tia...my baby. My daughter has a lhasa apso, named Dakota (also my baby). My son and daugher in law live in Orlando and have 2 Jack Russells, who think I am their "Gramma" and know my voice when I call. So, as you can see, we are very much dog people. I do have a tabby cat that we adopted from the shelter several years ago, and she tolerates all of us.
I wanted to get the word out to everyone about the potential of drowning for dogs, even though most people think all dogs can swim. NOT TRUE!! I have lost two dogs to drowning and although it has been a year ago for one and several years ago for the other, I still cry.
How can I let everyone know that they cannot assume their dogs know how to swim.
My first experience was with my 14 year old lhasa. I think she had a seizure and fell into our pool and I found her. It was dark outside and we had let her out for the last time before going to bed.
The other experience was with my maltese's puppy. He was a year old. All of them were playing outside and he got too close to the pool. I spent 15 minutes trying to revive him, but it didn't work. I feel extremely guilty every time I think about him, because he was only 3 pounds and was really my baby.
When I tell people this story, they look at me like I am crazy...all dogs swim!!! That is so NOT true, and I want to save someone else the pain and grief I have experienced.
Needless to say I refuse to ever have another swimming pool.