Flooding at Dog Park Puts Pets at Risk

The rain that Tropical Storm Debby dumped on Dunedin this week has had Happy Tails Dog Park looking more like Happy Tails water park.

The dogs love it, and for now, the water is mostly clean and the winds are moving the excess water out relatively quickly, so dog owners at the park Tuesday afternoon weren't concerned yet.

It's when the water sits for a long period of time that the pet owners said they worry. Standing water and a tropical climate are prime conditions for organisms that cause leptospirosis in pets, wildlife and humans, according the Centers for Disease Control. 

Because is built next to a reservoir, stormwater from all over the surrounding area, including the Englebert Complex and , drains into the dogs' area, bringing with it all the potentially contaminated wildlife urine and feces. During periods of heavy rain, like that of Tropical Storm Debby, the reservior floods over into the dog park, where pets romping through the standing water can easily become infected.

Leptospirosis is a treatable bacterial infection that affects the kidneys, according to the CDC. 

The CDC lists vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness and muscle stiffness as some of the signs and symptoms of infection. The CDC advises getting your pet vaccinated against leptospirosis.