Pet owner issues heartbreaking warning on dangers of leaving dogs in collars at home
A heartbroken pet owner has issued a tragic warning on the hidden dangers of leaving dogs in collars at home.
The woman has shared her devastating story after her four-legged friend sadly died in a 'freak accident' involving a dog collar.
In a TikTok video, Jessalyn explained while crying: "If you're a dog owner, please get breakaway collars, or please take your dogs collars off when they're at home or please have your dogs under supervision when they're outside playing, when they have collars on that aren't breakaway collars."
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Through the tears, she continued: "Please, please, for the love of God, make sure you have a collar that can come off."
Jessalyn went on to reveal that the amount of pets that die every single year due to strangulation because of collars is 'very high', which is why breakaway collars are recommended.
She went on: "The amount of animals every single year that pass away due to strangulation because of collars is astronomical.
"There are easy ways to prevent this by getting breakaway collars or supervising your animals while they're playing."
The TikToker told viewers she wasn't going to 'over-explain all the details', adding: "This is nothing like what you actually think it is.
"It's not just a collar getting stuck on something, it's a lot more brutal and I cannot put that on TikTok. This wasn't a dog owner's fault. This wasn't another dog's fault because we have multiple dogs. This was a freak accident."
Jessalyn concluded the video reiterating: "Please make sure you're watching your animals. Please make sure you have breakaway collars. Otherwise you may be set with a bag of for it nothing else."
She captioned the clip: "Please get breakaway collars for your dogs. This is your sign if you haven't already. Posting for awareness please please please keep your furbabies safe."
The video has since gone viral after clocking up 4.9 million views on the platform, alongside dozens of comments from people eager to share their words of condolences for Jessalyn.
One TikTok user penned: "So sorry for your loss!! Harnesses always!" while a second echoed: "I never use collars even for walks. Harness all the time only."
"I’ll never forget having a puppy come in due to this," shared a third. "He didn’t make it and it was a very hard loss. Easily my hardest point of my career. PLEASE USE BREAKAWAY COLLARS!"
A fourth chimed in: "This is why my dogs don’t wear collars unless they’re on walks."
"Oh my gosh, I am sending you so much love," offered a final TikTok user.
"Please don’t blame yourself :( accidents happen. Be gentle to yourself!"
Rhiannon Ingle