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Vladimir,
There is a
silent killer lurking in the United States, hiding just below
the surface of the Illinois River, and it's killing
our furry friends. It's called microcystin, a toxin
that is released by blue-green algae when it blooms in warm
bodies of water. What this poisonous substance does to dogs is
just heartbreaking. Take, for example, the story of sweet
Abby, Izzy, and Harpo, two little terriers and a poodle mix in
Wilmington, North Carolina. Their loving owners thought that
taking them to play in a pond would be a treat for the sweet
pups. But 15 minutes after swimming and playing in the
water, which was tainted with blue-green algae, all three dogs
suffered from violent seizures and tragically passed
away. Since then, their owners have committed their
lives to spotting these algae blooms, erecting warning signs,
and educating other dog owners. But doesn't that sound like a job for an
environmental agency?
The Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has done nothing to warn the public of
the presence of microcystin in the Illinois River, beyond one
quiet press release on their low-traffic government website.
Who checks a government website before taking their dogs
swimming? The Illinois EPA must enact a more
comprehensive and accessible plan, including mapping where
these algae blooms are located, constructing signs and fencing
to keep people and pets away from it, and widely releasing
life-saving information. Sign the petition to demand that the Illinois
EPA create an extensive, understandable, and effective plan to
protect people and their pets from this poison in the Illinois
River!
Thank you,
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Lauren
W.
The Care2 Petitions Team |
P.S. The
Illinois EPA is withholding important information about
keeping dogs safe this summer. Sign the petition today. |
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