Bob Dog's Road to Recovery
Donation protected
On Wednesday, November 1st, I was walking Bob (our 11 Month Bernese) out to the easment trail to head into the national forest. He caught 'wif' of a scent and darted into the Schaeffer's Mill Golf Course. I yelled for Bob to come but he wouldnt. I caught him eating something at the edge of the sand-trap. What I thought would end up being animal poop, was instead an unknown pellet like substance.
Around lunch time I came home to let Bob out only to find him laying in multiple piles of vomit.
Fast forward through ER midnight visits to Reno, Donner Truckee Medical Hospital, and multiple IV's and many pills, we had a very sick dog.
I put in a call to the course to find out what was used for rodent control. My call was quickly returned and I discovered what Bob had eaten. Zinc Phosphade. (Google it, terrible stuff) Here is a pic of the piles of poison.


Fast forward again. Bob had to be admitted to a hospital that had internal specialists, as well as the ability to perform plasma transfusions. Bob spent a total of 4 days in the ER, 3 Plasma transfusions, and enough meds to fill a grocery bag.

Thursday and Friday his liver numbers were so high, that we got a very low prognosis of him getting any better. We prepped to put him down saturday. Then, Saturday, post plasma, his numbers dropped ever so slightly. He miraculously improved sunday into monday, and he was let go to come home. Doc's were calling him Bionic Bob.
Bob is on the mend, and were trilled to have our young pup home.
Now, the part that really concerns me.
This golf course backs national forest. There are no fences, and there is TONS of wildlife. Daily we see deer, cayotes, bear, squirrels, birds, field mice, bobcats, and an occasional mtn lion as many have spotted on the 06.
This poison does not simply go-away. The day we received pictures of the poison and its application, there were fresh deer track, leading to the poison, and back to the woods. (pic below)

There are TONS of new families moving into the area, let alone the Schaffer's community. These animals, critters, and other sources are eating this stuff, and dying. Only to be eaten by the next critter in the food chain. I could go on, but its scary to think of the animals that have also eaten this Zinc Phosphade Poison, and are dying in the woods, or someones backyard.
Since the incident with Bob, another truckee resident's Lab was also poisoned and treated. The dog did survive. One other concerned Schaffer's resident to procaution and got there dog checked, as they thought he may have ingested the poison.
My main goal is to stop the use of this product. Department of Agriculture has stated that Schaffer's is certified to use the product. Above ground use requires a technique called scattering. I'm not going to jump to conclusions but the pic above doesn't look "scattered." I don't want to have anyone fired or frowned upon, simply bring this issue to peoples awarness and make it right.
Our small community of Poderosa Ranchos is concerned. as well as others. I hope to raise enopugh money to help get us through Bob's medical bills which are still accruing. If we are to be re-imbursed by any party on behalf of something that was done incorrectly or irrisponsibly, we will gladly and respectfully donate any overage back to a local organization who's mission is to help with these types of situations.
Bob's bills in total are tallying over $12,000.00. They are still rising as he needs labs periodically to continue to check his levels.
Thanks for all your help, thoughts and kind words. Be very cautious the next time your dog eat bear poop or other scat in the woods.
Respectfully-
Mike
Around lunch time I came home to let Bob out only to find him laying in multiple piles of vomit.
Fast forward through ER midnight visits to Reno, Donner Truckee Medical Hospital, and multiple IV's and many pills, we had a very sick dog.
I put in a call to the course to find out what was used for rodent control. My call was quickly returned and I discovered what Bob had eaten. Zinc Phosphade. (Google it, terrible stuff) Here is a pic of the piles of poison.
Fast forward again. Bob had to be admitted to a hospital that had internal specialists, as well as the ability to perform plasma transfusions. Bob spent a total of 4 days in the ER, 3 Plasma transfusions, and enough meds to fill a grocery bag.
Thursday and Friday his liver numbers were so high, that we got a very low prognosis of him getting any better. We prepped to put him down saturday. Then, Saturday, post plasma, his numbers dropped ever so slightly. He miraculously improved sunday into monday, and he was let go to come home. Doc's were calling him Bionic Bob.
Bob is on the mend, and were trilled to have our young pup home.
Now, the part that really concerns me.
This golf course backs national forest. There are no fences, and there is TONS of wildlife. Daily we see deer, cayotes, bear, squirrels, birds, field mice, bobcats, and an occasional mtn lion as many have spotted on the 06.
This poison does not simply go-away. The day we received pictures of the poison and its application, there were fresh deer track, leading to the poison, and back to the woods. (pic below)
There are TONS of new families moving into the area, let alone the Schaffer's community. These animals, critters, and other sources are eating this stuff, and dying. Only to be eaten by the next critter in the food chain. I could go on, but its scary to think of the animals that have also eaten this Zinc Phosphade Poison, and are dying in the woods, or someones backyard.
Since the incident with Bob, another truckee resident's Lab was also poisoned and treated. The dog did survive. One other concerned Schaffer's resident to procaution and got there dog checked, as they thought he may have ingested the poison.
My main goal is to stop the use of this product. Department of Agriculture has stated that Schaffer's is certified to use the product. Above ground use requires a technique called scattering. I'm not going to jump to conclusions but the pic above doesn't look "scattered." I don't want to have anyone fired or frowned upon, simply bring this issue to peoples awarness and make it right.
Our small community of Poderosa Ranchos is concerned. as well as others. I hope to raise enopugh money to help get us through Bob's medical bills which are still accruing. If we are to be re-imbursed by any party on behalf of something that was done incorrectly or irrisponsibly, we will gladly and respectfully donate any overage back to a local organization who's mission is to help with these types of situations.
Bob's bills in total are tallying over $12,000.00. They are still rising as he needs labs periodically to continue to check his levels.
Thanks for all your help, thoughts and kind words. Be very cautious the next time your dog eat bear poop or other scat in the woods.
Respectfully-
Mike
Organizer
Michael Daniel
Organizer
Truckee, CA