Many people enjoy taking their four legged friends to the dog park, but as one family found out, there are hidden dangers that can cause your pet to get sick.

Brodee is happy and healthy now, but his owner, Klara Stinnett said he was very sick a few weeks ago after drinking water from this fenced off retention pond at a local dog park.
Stinnett said, "The vet said it was definitely something he ingested..."
Brodee's vet bill was over $200, but Stinnett said she feels lucky it wasn't much more expensive. Because she was warned it could cost 800 dollars or more.
With such high prices for care, Hilary Hynes of Alachua County Animal Control said that owners should plan ahead for unexpected costs, while focusing on prevention.
Hynes said, "When you're taking on an animal you want to take the extra mile to say well, I need to put so much away because should something happen, I want to be able to take care of my pet the best way I can."
Hynes also advises pet owners to be especially vigilant about the water their dog's have access to, because that's how they often get sick.
Stacie Greco from Alachua County Environmental Protection said that pets can inadvertently contribute to a problematic cycle. She said, "When it rains all the pollutants on your yard and in your driveway get washed off into our storm water collection system and all of that goes to our creeks, our lakes, our retention ponds, and it doesn't get treated..."
Experts have said that failing to clean up after your pet, is not just rude to other people but also to the environment."
Greco said, "We want to make it the norm that everyone does it and if you see someone walking their dog or even in their yard and not picking up after their pet, then it's okay to let them know, hey, you can get sick from this pet waste, your dog can get sick from it, and the environment can get sick from it."
A variety of factors can contribute to problems for your pet, and after a tough reminder of that fact, Klara Stinnett and Brodee are happy to enjoy a day at the park.