In Memory of Jaxx Risolo

26/08/2025

PREVENT PET SUFFOCATION

Sadly, this beautiful 3 year old rescue pup named Plini suffocated in a snack bag on August 17th leaving her grieving family devastated. Christine Collins writes, "I adopted Plini in February of this year from a rescue in Texas. She was found in a garbage dump, afraid of everyone, caught, taken to a kill shelter, saved at the last moment by the rescue (Texas Round Up Animal Alliance), she was fostered, trained, loved and cared for. She began to blossom. A family in WA adopted her, but returned her because she was missing a toe. (🙄), but then we saw her in an ad. Upstate NY, and we fell in love. She was brought here in a blinding snowstorm via car after 3 days in a car, we got her! Immediately in love. She was the love of 4 children and her adult family - even my office coworkers. Plini knew love finally, and our adventures began! We saw sunsets, swims, rides, pupcups, linebacker tackle hugs, she blossomed Into the flower we knew she was! She was my velcro girl, and I was her velcro human. My Beagle, Maggie couldn’t have found a better friend. She was deeply loved and a part of my family for 6 months. She deserves an eternity of Infinite love.

She was the love of my children’s lives, too. Unfortunately tragedy struck Sunday, 8/17. The bag was rolled shut, and stored high. She pulled down the bag of Frito Lay Chester’s Puff Corn. Carried it to her spot, opened the bag, and began to snack. She plunged her head into the bag and it became stuck beyond her ears and over her face. She struggled to get it off, and unfortunately 3 hours later when we woke up, my 15 year old daughter came screaming into my room to wake me. I don’t remember touching the floor as I flew down the stairs. I screamed, begged, began CPR compressions, turned a shop vac on reverse hoping to bring her back. She was gone. She suffocated in a bag of snacks. My family has been in a state since, the rescue distraught, the mountain of grief and despair. The trauma. My poor sweet dog. She’s gone. The guilt and pain is mountainous. I placed her in a blanket and brought her to be cremated.

I’m writing this because when I got there the undertaker said “This is the fourth one I’ve seen this month” and of course deepening shock I sobbed. This tragedy strikes others?! I had to do some research. I began to dig, it turns out everyday 2-3 pets (cats and dogs) succumb to this freak accident. They had statistics, time it takes for the pet to pass, you name it. It was both a horror show and a slim moment of comfort. I’m not writing to bemoan. This is a tragedy. I want to prevent more. I cannot let Plini’s memory and legacy be in vein. I know I can’t bring her back, and the grief and sadness are still SO heavy.

I want honor Plini’s life and legacy, but also share knowledge that could save so many others from potentially losing their loved ones to such a sudden, and accidental tragedy. If you read this far, thank you. Hug your dogs a little tighter. And keep Plini in your thoughts and prayers If you do that, too. We miss her so deeply.
Please share her story, It could save a life. ♥️"

So many pet suffocation deaths still go unreported - "The undertaker said “This is the fourth one I’ve seen this month.” Pet suffocation happens daily and within minutes. Please share Plini's story as each story helps save other innocent pets and families from this heartbreak. Thank you.
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

22/08/2025

Missing my boy. No matter how long it’s been.

21/06/2025

Sadly, this healthy senior Labrador Mix named Lexie suffocated on June 17th in a chip bag leaving her family devastated. Deborah Lewis writes, "Last night, after arriving home from my trip, I tragically found my sweet, precious Lexie girl had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. The way she passed was very traumatic to experience, but while I did know it was a risk that exists and something that happens more than we realize, I know there are still so many who have never known it to be a possibility, and due to this I want to use her passing to hopefully spread awareness and help others take whatever precautions they can for their fur babies. Though in having a dog like Lexie, who was so extremely motivated in getting into anything and everything she could, good and bad for her, and in always trying to take the most precautions I could, and being a Vet Professional, it just shows that it doesn’t matter and these freak accidents can happen to anyone at any time and very quickly. However, I still think it’s important to provide the details of her passing to at least spread the awareness to others.

Unfortunately, Lexie got herself into a bag of chips, which were on the counter at what we felt was a safe distance from her reach. She has always been a counter surfer and we have always been cautious in keeping things far enough back. I have forgotten chip bags out many times without incident, even found some ripped open I’d forgotten over the years, these things happen sometimes. Sadly, this time, Lexie, and we did not get so lucky.

Lexie somehow got this bag, that had been in the same place for over a day, and put her head into the bag to eat the chips. Unfortunately when dogs get into chip bags like this, with their heads completely in, whether they steal them from a table, the counter or an empty bag from the garbage, while they are eating and licking, the bag seals and forms a vacuum around their heads which they cannot break or get out of. This seal cuts off their oxygen supply, and sadly without being able to breathe or get out of the seal, they then pass away.

This is what happened to my Lexie girl as I found her deceased on the dining room floor with her head inside the chip bag. An accident like this leaves no one to blame, and can happen so quickly whether we are at home with them or out. I don’t like to think that she suffered, and that she simply lost consciousness while enjoying herself a delicious snack, which she sadly just then never woke up from, and that this happened quickly.

Please I urge you to be aware of the risk chip bags (or similar) can be. Ensure they are always put away in a high cupboard if you have pets, and cut open any empty ones to be thrown into the garbage. Though also, it’s important to know sometimes we just forget, or they still get them somehow, and these things can just happen.
🩷

Pet suffocation happens daily and within minutes. Please share in honor of sweet Lexie to help spread awareness. It's our best defense against pet suffocation.
www.preventpetsuffocation.com
.com

28/05/2025

RIP

Memorial Day Weekend ended on a devastating note for this family whose senior Miniature Pinscher named Jasper suffocated in a chip bag on Sunday. Destry Earling writes, "Jasper got into a chip bag that was left out. He was found passed away on the couch with his head still in the bag. The bag did not seem tight enough to cause this but now I know they can. We will forever miss our best boy and hope we can prevent this from happening to others."

Pet suffocation happens daily and within minutes. Please share in honor of sweet Jasper to help spread awareness. Thank you.
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

23/04/2025

Awareness ❤️

🚨 Great Reminder Infographic from Emergency Pet Clinic of Longmont on Common Everyday Items that Pose Pet Suffocation Risks!🚨

🚨 COMMON SUFFOCATION RISKS:

🚨All Food Bags: Chip bags and Snack Bags are the biggest culprit for pet suffocation. When a pet puts their head inside of a food bag, especially one with mylar, it creates a vacuum-like seal around their neck, cutting off the oxygen.

🚨Plastic Toys: Small parts or loose pieces from the toy can can get stuck in their throats or intestines.

🚨Rubber Bands and Hair Ties: These can cause a choking hazard if a pet swallows them.

🚨Plastic Candy/Treat Wrappers: Pets may chew on or swallow these wrappers which can cause choking or airway blockage. If the wrapper is like a bag, it can cause a suffocation risk.

🚨Tennis/Rubber Balls: If a dog tears the ball apart and eats the rubber, the pieces could become lodged in its throat, blocking airflow. Depending on the size of the ball and dog, the whole ball can become lodged in the throat, leading to suffocation.

🚨STEPS TO PREVENT PET SUFFOCATION:

🚨Keep all food bags, containers, and wrappers safely out of reach
🚨Supervise your pet with toys and objects that could be chewed or swallowed
🚨Regularly check play areas for small items that might pose a risk
🚨Keep trash cans lids tightly closed or behind a counter to keep pets out
🚨Invest in pet-safe toys designed to minimize choking hazards

Pet suffocation happens daily and within minutes. Let's stay vigilant in protecting pets from suffocation risks! 🐶🐱

www.preventpetsuffocation.com

21/04/2025

Prevent pet suffocation 💔

This grieving family lost their 12 year old Beagle, Sammy, on January 4th when she suffocated in a chip bag, leaving them crushed. Cindy Scholl writes, "On January 4th, we came home and found our Beagle dead with a Middleswarth chip bag on her head. We have been completely devastated. When we found her, her entire head was in the chip bag but it was completely inflated and not tight and vacuum sealed around her head. She was sick. She had cancer and was on very limited time. I actually knew the risks of bags and we have always been very careful with her (and all of our animals over the years.) Before we left (and it was only for an hour), I made sure phone cords were up, drink glasses were in the sink, and I didn’t see any food dangers. We even have a built-in trash can so she couldn’t get into stuff. A routine I’ve done a thousand times.

What I didn’t realize was my husband had been eating chips and had set the bag down beside his chair for a second and forgot about it. We were not ourselves that day because our kitty who was 15 died the day before from kidney disease, and we had gotten the bad news about Sammy (short for Samantha) two weeks before that she had an apple size tumor in her liver. When he got up, the chair had spun and the bag had gotten stuck under the chair just enough that neither of us saw it. I relive those moments over and over in my head. Since this has happened, I have become an advocate in our area to help prevent this from happening to anyone else. Some days the pain of not knowing what actually happened in her final moments had been almost unbearable.

And I found your page for the exact reason you mentioned…so I didn’t feel alone. People don’t understand the range of emotions you have when you lose a pet, and especially when you lose one in such a traumatic way. I needed to find others who felt the way I did (and understood what I was feeling) so I knew I was “normal.” You saying it happens quickly and they fall asleep does help. I never wanted her to die alone. We had an entire plan worked out with our vet that never happened. She was alone. 😢Thank you so much for your time, for responding, and for listening. What you are doing is wonderful."

When Cindy reached out, she was questioning whether Sammy had actually suffocated in the chip bag, since the bag was not adhered tightly around her neck when found. Pet owners have reported finding their deceased pets both ways - with the food bag still tightly affixed over the head or the food bag was over the head but it was easier to remove. Once the pet stops breathing and there is no more air coming in the bag, it can start to deflate and not have a tight suction. Please share in honor of sweet Sammy.
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

24/03/2025

11/03/2025

CPS has conducted evaluations of pet food/pet litter containers to assess for suffocation risk.

08/02/2025

Prevent pet suffocation! Close your pantry. Cut your bags. Use containers. Protect your babies.

This heartbroken pet owner is simply crushed after losing her rescue pup on February 4th when he suffocated in a pet food bag. Christina Zilius writes, "His name was Cassius, but we called him Cassarole. He was a German Shepherd/Husky mix, 6 years old. I was already so scared because he was 6, I felt the time ticking away already. But that I still had more time.

I was running late for work, my other pup had just gotten diagnosed with allergies the Thursday before and got prescribed the Royal Canin food and treats. I was the last one in that cupboard to give them their goodbye treats. I didn't shut it all the way. When my daughter and I got home we found him. The bag was stuck on his head, I ran but it was too late, CPR didn't work. I lost him.

He was my best friend, we moved across country 5 years ago, that was the year my son brought him home. He was a rescue. He was mine. I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in the first month with him. He was with me everyday, when I was sick from chemo. He was the only reason I got out of bed, to take him outside. It was the best part of my day watching him play and getting fresh air. We bonded forever. He was scared and new to us and I was scared too. He was my only friend. He didn't deserve this. I never would have made it without him. I don't know if I can now. He was everything."

It's devastating that one little oversight like not shutting a cabinet door all the way can bring such heartbreak and loss. Please share in honor of sweet Cassius, gone too soon. Thank you.
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

22/12/2024

RIP roper

Sadly, this family is crushed after their 11 year old Heeler Mix named Roper suffocated in a pet food bag on December 13th. Maria Thompson writes, "I lost my Heeler mix last week to this and am completely devastated. I was so cautious with him and had locks on all of the cabinets with garbage because he was a garbage raider. I went out for coffee with my son for probably less than an hour total and came home and found him. I didn't even understand what was happening. I kept all of the food in our pantry and had chip clips on things because I had caught the dogs in the food before. I did not have a chip clip on the small bag of cat food and it was on his head when my son and I walked in. It's difficult to not blame myself. I know I would have closed the pantry, but maybe it wasn't closed all the way and he was able to get it open. I don't really know. I am guilt ridden.

I have never heard of this before it happened to us. I panicked and did not try to resuscitate him. I wasn't sure even how to do it and was just in a panicked state. I don't think it would have helped most likely but feel guilty I didn't remain more calm and think. He was the leader of the pack and I'm so sad without him and that he suffered."

Pet suffocation always catches pet owners off guard, and panicking is very common. We do our best as pet owners, and losing a special family member to pet suffocation is simply devastating. By spreading awareness, we can help prevent other pets and families from going through this. 🐶🐱
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

08/11/2024

Sadly, this family is still grieving the loss of Tyson, their 8 year old Bernese Mountain/Rottweiler pup, after he suffocated in a chip bag in late July. Jessica Rodriguez writes, "I lost my best friend on Sunday, July 21, 2024. My dogs were staying in NJ with family, while me and my husband worked things out with a new apartment. We were staying with a friend for one month before moving in August. It was easier for us to not have the dogs with us, at the time with being unsure where we would be staying.

On July 21st, our family members left to go to a family gathering. This meant the dogs would be alone for a few hours. It remains unknown to us how Tyson would have gotten access to a chip bag, as it’s a major house rule that all bags be put out of reach. In addition, this was not common behavior for him. At the time there were other dogs at the house. We don’t know if another dog pulled the bag of chips off the counter or if the bag was found in the bedroom. Somehow Tyson got access to the bag and sadly it took his life. He was found in the hallway by my brother in law, who was going to the house to check on all the dogs. The dogs had only been alone for about 2 hours before he arrived.

My entire world shattered that day when I got the phone call. The level of pain and grief I felt and still feel is unlike any I have experienced before. To this day it does not seem real that Tyson is no longer with us. Since that day we have been informing everyone we know about the dangers that come with chips bags. We cut up our bags and encourage those we know to do the same."

Pet suffocation happens daily and within minutes. Please share in honor of sweet Tyson so other pets and families have to go through this. Thank you.
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

23/10/2024

Prevent pet suffocation. So sad

The Bandy family is crushed after their sweet Corgi suffocated in a chip bag yesterday. Candice Bandy writes, "My 2 year old Corgi Willow suffocated in a Sun Chips bag. I ran my daughter to dance and came home to find her in the kitchen with the bag over her head. I am pretty sure the cat knocked the chips off the kitchen table. We are completely heartbroken."

Pet suffocation happens within minutes. It is always unexpected. Candice left her home to do a quick errand. By the time she returned, it was too late for Willow. Please share in honor of Willow, and visit our website to learn more on how to prevent pet suffocation.
www.preventpetsuffocation.com