Dog hospitalized after ingesting meth at Anaheim park (2024)

Vivian Chow

·4 min read

A family is distressed after their dog was hospitalized for ingesting methamphetamine while walking at a local Anaheim park.

On Thursday night, Amy Robbins took her dog, Abbey, a 12-year-old Chihuahua mix, for a short walk from their home to Stoddard Park located at 1901 9th Street.

After visiting the park, they went back home. However, that’s when Robbins said Abbey began acting strangely.

“She was standing very statue-like,” Robbins recalled. “She just stood there for hours, just staring up at the ceiling in my bedroom. That is not like her at all.”

Robbins became increasingly worried. Her husband asked if the dog had eaten anything out of the ordinary during their walk.

“I was like, ‘You know what? She did sniff something. She licked the floor,’” Robbins said. “I went right back down to the park to where it had happened. I looked all around the floor and I found weed.”

Several hours passed by and Abbey’s behavior became more erratic.

“She’s zooming all over the house and can’t stay still,” Robbins said. “She was looking everywhere. I can’t get her to calm down. She was very in distress. She was very anxious.”

Robbins rushed Abbey to an emergency veterinary clinic and told the staff her dog had possibly ingested marijuana.

Upon further examination, however, the veterinarian suspected weed was not involved and asked to run a full blood panel test on Abbey.

“He comes back a few minutes later and he’s like, ‘We found meth in your dog. The test results came back positive for meth,’” she said. “My mouth just dropped.”

The vet said Abbey was at risk of going into cardiac arrest and would need to be hospitalized overnight.

“I was leaving her behind and I didn’t know if I was going to see her again,” Robbins said.

The next morning, Robbins went to the Anaheim Police Department to file a report on the presence of drugs at the neighborhood park. However, she claimed officers were not eager to help or investigate.

“They took down all the details,” she said. “They took down my phone number and then they said, ‘Okay, we’re taking down your phone number, but don’t expect a call from us. We’re not going to do anything about it.’”

Frustrated and upset, Robbins said she went back to the park and spotted drug-related debris that she cleaned up.

“This is the neighborhood park,” Robbins said in disbelief. “People take their dogs on walks here. There is an elementary school right on the other side.”

Since the park has a playground and is in close proximity to a school, Robbins wondered what would’ve happened had a child accidentally ingested the methamphetamine or other narcotics that were littered on the ground.

“There are cars parked on the curb all day,” she said. “There are also homeless encampments all throughout the park. I don’t know if people there are using [drugs].”

As for Abbey, she was treated and is expected to recover.Robbins said the ordeal wreaked havoc on her family emotionally and financially. Abbey spent two nights in the hospital and the bill for her treatment had surged to over $2,000.

“I put it all on my credit card,” Robbins said. “I don’t know how I’m going to pay it all off. I will figure it out. It definitely cost me a lot of stress and money, but I’m just glad that Abbey’s okay. I would’ve paid $1 million if it meant saving her life. I cannot imagine my life without her.”

Robbins said she hopes her story will serve as a warning to other dog owners to be on the lookout the next time they bring their dogs to Stoddard Park.

An Anaheim city spokesperson released a statement on the incident saying:

“Our thoughts go out to Abbey and her family. Our parks are patrolled by Anaheim Police, park rangers and security guards and are cleaned daily. Drugs are never allowed in Anaheim parks. [The] blame here lies with an irresponsible drug user. Sadly, this is an issue larger than our city and reflects California’s drug crisis. We welcome a broader discussion on laws and consequences for public use of methamphetamine and other drugs.”

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Dog hospitalized after ingesting meth at Anaheim park (2024)

FAQs

What are the effects of drugs on dogs? ›

The most commonly reported signs are hyperactivity, aggression, hyperthermia, tremors, ataxia, tachycardia, hypertension, mydriasis, circling, head bobbing, and death. Diagnosis is as for cocaine (see below) and relies mostly on owner knowledge of exposure.

What to do if your dog eats drugs? ›

If you know or suspect your dog has consumed any over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications, even if no symptoms are evident, immediately contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center while heading to an animal emergency facility. This will hopefully save time and allow treatment to be started sooner.

Can dogs recover from drug toxicity? ›

Recovery will depend on the drug, the amount that was ingested, and the immediacy of treatment. Some dogs can recover from even very severe overdoses if they get to the veterinarian right away. Cases where the poisoning was not discovered until later or the cause is unknown are much harder to treat.

How long do drug dogs live? ›

From tracking suspects to sniffing out drugs and weapons, canine officers work hard every day alongside human police forces. Have you ever wondered how long police dogs work and whether their dangerous jobs result in a shorter lifespan? Usually, a police dog's lifespan ranges from 9-15 years.

How do you flush poison out of a dog's system? ›

If the animal is unconscious, the stomach may be flushed with a stomach tube, or surgery on the stomach may be needed. Laxatives and medications used to empty the bowels may be recommended in some instances to help remove the poison from the gastrointestinal tract.

How long does it take for a dog to show signs of overdose? ›

The most common clinical signs of opioid overdose include: • drowsiness • difficulty standing • failure to respond to commands • a blank stare, and • weakness, progressing to unconsciousness • inability to breathe and ultimately death. Most canines start to show clinical signs within 15 minutes of exposure.

How long does dog drugs last? ›

As a general rule you should discard any liquid medication 2 weeks after it was mixed and discard any pills or capsules 6 months after they were dispensed. This is the rationale behind recommending that you clean out your medicine cabinet twice a year and discard any expired products.

How do dogs react to drugs? ›

An active or aggressive alert occurs when a dog responds with a vocal or otherwise overt reaction to locating drugs. An active alert might be barking, straining toward, digging, or pawing at the spot where the drugs are located.

What are the side effects of narcotics in dogs? ›

In dogs, opioid-mediated adverse effects include restlessness, dizziness headache, unsteady gait, reduced spontaneous activity, hypotension, miosis, salivation, vomiting, constipation, urinary retention, itchiness, dry mouth (15).

What are the effects of abused dogs? ›

Physical – One of the most significant consequences of animal abuse is the physical harm that it causes to animals. Abused animals may suffer from malnutrition, dehydration, injuries, infections, and diseases. They may even die as a result of their mistreatment.

How do you tell if a dog is high on drugs? ›

Many of the signs of intoxication are neurological. Pets may become wobbly and uncoordinated. They may be hyperactive or sleepy, disoriented, and/or very vocal. Their pupils may dilate, giving them a wild-eyed appearance, and they may drool excessively or vomit.

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