A family's outing to a beach nearly ended in tragedy when their pet dog swallowed an angling hook and yards of line.
Getting better - inquisitive pet Chloe with Phillip and Emma Saffelle and children Thomas and Sophie. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (46316-3)
Spaniel Chloe had to have an emergency operation but is recovering at home with stitches in her tummy and a collar around her head.
The Saffelle family, of Alton Park Road, Clacton, were walking their new pet on the sands at Martello Bay, West Clacton, when they noticed she was chewing something.
They ran over and saw the line hanging out of her mouth.
Mr Saffelle, a landscape gardener, took the spaniel for treatment and within an hour she was on the operating table.
Mr Saffelle said the hook and line were taken out of Chloe's stomach.
He said the hook was half way up the beach in the soft sand - and any child or adult could have stepped on it and injured themselves.
Mr Saffelle said it was irresponsible for fishermen to leave line and hooks around.
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Published Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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