Several years ago, my Mum's Collie "Hobby" had an accident with a stick that he picked up in the park while I was walking him.  Nobody was throwing it for him, he just found it and picked it up.  As soon as I saw him with the stick, I took it from him and "lost" in the bushes, but I didn't know the damage it had already done.

We carried on walking for another 15 minutes or so and then went home.  When we arrived home, I noticed that Hobby was coughing a little, but he had a heart murmur and often coughed after exercise so I wasn't worried, and I just let him rest. 

But 20 minutes after arriving home, Hobby coughed up some lumps of blood. Luckily I saw him do it. I had no idea what was wrong but I knew he needed immediate veterinary attention.

Fortunately it was during normal vet's surgery hours, so I quickly rung to say I was on my way, then we jumped into the car and sped off down to the vet's which was about 20 minutes away.

On examination, it was discovered that somehow, when Hobby had picked up the stick, it had gone down into his throat. It had sheared off one of his tonsils and he was still bleeding from it.  He'd been bleeding for over 45 minutes and had been swallowing the blood. 

If he hadn't coughed up some of the blood, or if I hadn't been there at the time, he would have died from internal bleeding.  As it was, he was very weak by the time we reached the vet's.

The vet performed emergency surgery and to everyone'sy great relief Hobby made a good recovery and within 24 hours, he was back to his normal self.  

Tragically, other dogs weren't so lucky, as you'll discover if you read on.

You may think I'm exaggerating.  I wish I was.

This news item appeared on the BBC News webpage on 6th August 2008. 
Dog Swallows 2ft Long Stick  But even with national media coverage, people will still think it won't happen to them, and the advertisers will still keeping promoting sticks as a fun thing for dogs to play with.

I have started a Hall of Shame, to name and shame companies who promote stick throwing for dogs.

The Kennel Club of Great Britain can be the first on the list.  They gave 2nd prize in a photographic competition to a dog playing with a stick. The Kennel Club should definitely know better but when I e-mailed them to complain, all I got was a sarcastic e-mail tagged onto the end of another e-mail saying to the innocent office girl "reply to this woman although I have the feeling that nothing is going to please her!"  In fact, the Kennel Club still has photos of dogs with sticks on its website such as this one and this one and they've printed a photo of dogs playing with sticks in their latest KC Yearbook so they are continuing to be irresponsible and can stay top of the list in my Hall of Shame.

Second on the list is Pedigree Chum for their Better By Nature television advert which claims that natures provides the best toys, ie sticks.  I e-mailed Pedigree Petfoods several times via their website but never even got an acknowledgement let alone a reply. I have now written to the Managing Director of Mars Petcare who own Pedigree Chum, and it will be interesting to see if he replies or if he's disinterested in dogs' welfare and more interested in making money.  Will let you know. Watch this space!

I had a good response from Arden Grange, who used a photo of a dog with a stick in a magazine advert. After I pointed out the dangers of sticks, Arden Grange apologised and promised not to use the ad again. What a shame that the Kennel Club and Pedigree Chum aren't as responsible and caring.