When Snacks Go Bad: What Chip Bags and Six-pack Rings Have in Common - Prevent Pet Suffocation

by Dr. Jason Nicholas, BVetMed

Do you remember the campaign that encouraged people to cut their plastic six-pack carriers to prevent strangulation of birds, turtles, and other wildlife? Perhaps you even saw the 2010 plastic awareness campaign in Vancouver BC, where people put large six-pack rings around sculptures of wildlife to highlight the dangers of plastic? What a great idea!

The threat is real!

Are you aware that the packaging of the things which commonly accompany six-packs — the chips, pretzels, popcorn, and other snacks — also pose a dangerous threat… the threat of suffocation?

It’s a hazard that affects dogs, cats, and wildlife. 

And it happens so far more often than you’d likely think. Which is why we’ve created this graphic to help highlight the importance of cutting or tearing all snack, cereal, and other food packaging bags prior to throwing them out or recycling them.


Sad Facts About Pet Suffocation:
  • People were often gone from their home for only 20-30 minutes when their dog suffocated, and in many cases somebody was actually at home when the pet suffocated.
  • Suffocation can happen in as little as 3-5 minutes, and it doesn’t matter how big or strong the dog is. Even Giant breeds have been lost to pet suffocation.
  • At least 2-3 pets are lost each week in the U.S. to pet suffocation… and these are just the ones that we know about!

This sweet 1 year old puppy named Buddy suffocated in a chip bag (crisp packet) on Monday while his devoted owner,...
Posted by Prevent Pet Suffocation on Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Another sweet pup suffocates in a plastic food bag! Marlena Castro and her family have had a hard time adjusting to this...
Posted by Prevent Pet Suffocation on Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The Rollison family are devastated after losing their 1 year old puppy, Lilly, last week when she suffocated in a Lay's...
Posted by Prevent Pet Suffocation on Monday, April 27, 2015


We’ve teamed up with Bonnie Harlan, who launched her Prevent Pet Suffocation website and Facebook page, to help raise awareness of this heartbreaking tragedy after she lost her own dog, Blue, to chip bag suffocation. Together we are working hard to ensure that no more pets, no more pet lovers, and no more wildlife will ever have to suffer the devastating experience of suffocation.

Along with this graphic, we’ve also produced a video PSA and an awareness page full of information, prevention tips, and stories. Together we’re also conducting an important survey to gauge awareness of this hazard and compile the information that will be necessary to affect the change needed to prevent these tragedies, and Bonnie also has an ongoing petition to Frito Lay asking them to add a warning label to their packaging to help keep pets safe.



Here is how you can help:

  • Pledge to cut or tear all of your food packaging bags prior to discarding them.
  • Share this post and thank Jana for giving us this great additional platform to get this important information and awareness out there. (Thank you, Jana!)
  • Watch our PSA video and check out our awareness campaign page, where you’ll find lots more information and tips to help you protect your pets. You can find the page and the video here.
  • Take and share our Pet Suffocation Survey — even if you’ve never lost a pet to suffocation. All experiences and responses are important in this cause.
  • Sign Bonnie’s Frito Lay petition to help get warning labels added to their snack packaging.

Together we can all make a much bigger difference in preventing these heartbreaking cases of preventable pet suffocation.

***

At The Preventive Vet™ they are passionate about helping you keep your dog safe from emergencies, and they’ve got the experience and advice to help you do so.
Pet emergencies are common. And though they range in both severity and price, many will cost you anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, and many can cause your pet debilitating pain, illness, or even death.

You likely don’t have unlimited time or financial resources, but you obviously want to do what you can to keep your pets safe from preventable injuries, illnesses, poisonings, and other emergencies. That’s why
The Preventive Vet™ offers a wide range of practical advice, dog safety information, and products


Related articles:
Bree Almost Suffocated In A Chip Bag. Prevent Pet Suffocation 
A Snack Bag Could Kill Your Dog: Prevent Pet Suffocation

Comments