Overview
- A 16-year-old dog named Dobby fell ill after swimming at Millennium Park and died on Sunday, and the owner suspects toxic cyanobacteria exposure.
- State and city health officials received a report linking the death to algal toxins and have issued an advisory urging people and pets to avoid a stretch of the Charles River while investigators test the water.
- Veterinarians warn cyanobacteria toxins can produce rapid neurological and liver symptoms in dogs that often become fatal within hours and that there is no specific antidote.
- Local watershed groups say they were unaware of recent testing near Millennium Park, highlighting that Massachusetts typically tests only after reports are made rather than through routine surveillance.
- The Charles River has seen recurrent summer cyanobacteria blooms in recent years and toxins can persist after visible algae disappear, so officials advise avoiding ponds and river water during peak bloom season.