Wild, toxic mushrooms kill family's dogs

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's a warning for parents and pet owners: wild mushrooms growing in North Buffalo proved to be poisonous for one family's dogs. Their two puppies ended up dying after consuming the wild mushrooms.

The family is telling their story, hoping to help others before it's too late. In February, Tim and Melissa Haley decided to get their two daughters their first pet.

A pure-bred German Shepherd puppy named Cashel joined 5-year-old Elizabeth and 8-year-old Mary. But in less than four weeks, Cashel became extremely sick. Loss of appetite. Vomiting. Diarrhea and signs of severe liver failure.

"We brought him in. They hydrated him. Attempted to hydrate him. But his kidneys just shut down," Melissa Haley said.

The girls were devastated. And the Haleys couldn't figure out what sickened the dog.

"Our 8-year-old daughter is still really upset about it. And the second time, even more so," Melissa said.

That right. There was a second time. This month the Haleys got their daughters a second German Shepherd pup who the girls also named Cashel. And just two weeks later, the same symptoms. They took Cashel 2 to the vet, but last week they had to put him down as well. It was a very hard talk to have with their girls.

"It was terrible, terrible. Nothing a parent wants to do," Tim Haley said. "Especially the second time. We just hope our daughter can get through this and be comfortable to try a pet again."

Searching for answers, Melissa remembered seeing tiny mushrooms in the back yard. They went to look again. The Haleys have isolated a mushroom they believe is similar to the ones the dogs ate.

News 4 contacted a mushroom expert who identified this as an amanita, a poisonous mushroom that grows in the wild. Vets say if a dog eats one, it needs treatment within hours.

"Honestly, because you can't tell what's toxic and what's not toxic, I would err on the side of assuming everything is toxic and just get rid of them," said associate veterinarian Susan Jeffrey-Borger at Blue Cross Animal Hospital.

That's what the Haleys plan to do. And they want to make sure others do the same.

Melissa said, "Really want people to be on the lookout for these things. And really want the community to know the dangers."

The symptoms of toxic mushroom ingestion start with the loss of appetite and intense vomiting. By the time the dog's eyes start to look yellow, vets say the liver is already starting to shut down.