Algae Toxin That Can Kill Dogs Discovered in 2 Montgomery County Lakes

Montgomery Parks urged dog owners to keep their pets on a leash and out of the lakes

There are elevated levels of a toxic substance that could be deadly to dogs and harmful to people in two lakes in Montgomery County, Maryland, officials say.

Blue-green algae released the toxin microcystin in Lake Needwood and Lake Frank in Rock Creek Regional Park.

If ingested, microcystin can cause liver damage to people and pets.

The toxin often appears at the lakes during the summer.

"An algal bloom toxicity can be very dangerous and possibly lethal if not treated when clinical signs start occurring," Dr. Matthew Antokowiak, a veterinarian at AtlasVet in Washington, D.C., previously told News4 in 2017. 

Montgomery Parks said in a statement Tuesday that pet owners should keep their dogs on leashes and not allow them to drink or come into contact with the water.

To read more on this story, click here: Algae Toxin That Can Kill Dogs Discovered in 2 Montgomery County Lakes


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Goldfish Survive 4 Months After New Zealand Earthquake

Two goldfish were found alive in their tank in a building that was badly damaged by the earthquake that struck New Zealand.

The two goldfish, named Shaggy and Daphne, have become the smallest survivors of the earthquake in February.  The earthquake killed 181 people in Christchurch.

There were originally six goldfish in the tank when the quake struck. When the survivors were found, there was no trace of three others. A fourth was found dead. There is the question of their missing companions. Goldfish are omnivores.

The fish spent four and a half months, trapped in their tank in a downtown area of the city, that was off-limits. There was no food, or electricity to power their tank filter. They were discovered by workers, and rescued.

The fish survived from eating algae growing on the tank’s rocks and walls. Fish can go without food for a while because they are cold blooded, and unlike mammals don't burn up food to keep warm.

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Red Tide Killing Marine Life In Florida

Sarasota, Fla. — The worst outbreak in years of toxic algae -- also known as red tide -- is killing thousands of sea creatures in Southwest Florida.

Red tide occurs naturally each year from Sarasota to Marco Island. It typically lasts about six months, but this year’s season is in its ninth month.

To read more on this story, click here: Red Tide Killing Marine Life In Florida

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