A devastated pet parent arrived home from work to discover his beloved puppy had tragically died from suffocation due to a potato chip bag. Leo, the Boxer, tragically lost his life after his head became stuck inside the foil packaging on a fateful Tuesday. Barry James, 42, is sharing his heartbreaking story to raise awareness about the hazards of leaving trash unattended at home, urging fellow pet owners to be cautious and keep their living spaces clean and safe for their furry companions.
Barry James was devastated when he discovered that his beloved Boxer puppy Leo (shown in the photo) had suffocated on a chip bag.
The 42-year-old man was working when his dog tragically died from suffocation after his head got stuck in a foil wrapper. Mr. James recounted the incident saying, “I had left Leo with my parents while I was at work, and they allowed him to roam and have fun. When they weren’t watching, Leo somehow managed to open a kitchen cupboard and grab an opened bag of chips.” The six-month-old puppy then took the half-eaten bag of chips to the backyard and accidentally got his head stuck in it. Mr. James mentioned, “Leo struggled to remove the bag from his head, but the foil quickly tightened as he breathed, ultimately leading to his suffocation.”
Leo discovered a partially eaten bag of chips in the cabinet and attempted to eat the remainder. “When my parents discovered him, it was too late. It’s heart-wrenching and not a situation I ever imagined I’d have to face,” said Mr. James. “It’s shocking how something as ordinary as chips can turn into a dangerous situation so quickly.” Since Leo’s passing, his owner has struggled to cope with the loss, equating the grief to losing a beloved family member. Mr. James described Leo as his closest companion, saying, “He was always by my side, and I adored him completely.”
He brought the wrapper outside to the garden, but unfortunately, his head got stuck in the bag, depriving him of oxygen.
“No one should have to experience the pain of losing a beloved dog like this.”
In a heartfelt post on Facebook following the incident, Mr. James shared, “I’m devastated, lying here in bed, after returning home to discover my puppy Leo passed away in a tragic accident.
“I don’t want anyone else to feel the same heartbreak I’m going through. Leo was everything to me, and I cherished every moment we spent together in the four months we had.
“Those who knew me and met Leo could see what a wonderful dog he was. He was my companion at rugby games, work, our holiday in Ireland, and even during my rugby coaching sessions.”
The owner expressed his deep sorrow, comparing the loss of Leo to losing a loved one and describing him as his closest companion. He shared a precautionary message after learning that similar incidents have affected many other pets. The advice is to cut up or split open bags of crisps, cereal, or other snacks to prevent a tragedy if a pet were to accidentally ingest them. Alternatively, keeping these items securely stored out of reach or opting to eat snacks from a bowl can help avoid any potential dangers to our furry friends.
