Toxic algae can sicken people, but it is especially harmful to animals. Small clusters of dog deaths have been reported for the past three summers after pets were exposed to toxic algae.

Increasing numbers of canine deaths have been reported in 2019 across the Eastern half of U.S.as temperatures reach record highs throughout the country.

Sisterdale resident Tamra Massey lost her three-year -old toy Australian shepherd, Fina just southwest of Blanco on Wednesday, July 31 in the Guadalupe River near the FM 1376 bridge in Kendall County.

“I wish the water would have looked tainted that day,” Massey said. “I wish there was any indication that said not to let my dog get in the water.”

Massey took her dog to the nearest veterinarian in Boerne but Fina had passed before they reached the clinic.

“The reason I went public with this is to warn other dog lovers like me,” Massey said. “I don’t want another dog to die.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, algae occurs naturally in water, including rivers, creeks and lakes, but excess nutrients from a variety of sources contributes to a growing number of harmful algal blooms.

Harmful algal blooms are a major environmental problem in all 50 states. Red tides, blue-green algae and cyanobacteria are examples of harmful algal blooms that can have severe impacts on human health, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy.

Animals affected by exposure will show symptoms anywhere from 15 minutes from ingestion or exposure to several days later. The EPA recommends taking pets to the vet immediately if they suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, staggering, drooling, difficulty breathing and/or convulsions.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has a Kills and Spills Team (KAST) that responds to an incident where fish or other animals have been harmed. These specially-trained biologists collect water samples for analysis, record water quality and environmental data, and identify and estimate numbers of dead wildlife, among other tasks.

They contact other agencies and personnel, including Texas Department of State Health Services if human health issues are suspected,

Suspected harmful blooms can be reported to TPWD’s 24-hour communication center at (512) 389-4848.