Pet Safe Anti-Freeze: Heartsick Boy Champions Law After Dog's Death
Best friends Nikko and twelve-year old Aaron Coash. (Photo: stopantifreezepoisoning.com)
For six wonderful years, Nikko, a Shiba Inu, and Aaron Coash, a 12-year-old boy from Kansas were best friends. They competed in dog shows together and brought happiness to seniors in nursing homes. But, as Fox News reports, all that changed a few weeks ago. One day, Aaron returned home from school and Nikko was not there to greet him. The dog had wandered off on some ill-fated adventure and ended up drinking anti-freeze. Nikko’s health quickly declined and after a week of pain, the dog died.
Heartbroken, Aaron is following his parents' advice and trying to find some good in this tragedy—by proposing Nikko's Law, which would require that anti-freeze have a bitter, rather than a sweet, taste. This would repel, rather than tempt, dogs, cats, and kids.
Dr. Mike Wasmer from the VCA Emergency Clinic in Mission, Kansas sees a couple cases of antifreeze poisoning a year, and depending on the animal’s size, it doesn’t take much to cause damage.
"You could have a tiny little Pomeranian that has a few licks, could be enough to put it into kidney failure,” said Wasmer.
Time is also a huge factor in whether or not an animal makes it.
“If they delay more than four to six hours, it’s very likely that the damage has been done,” said Wasmer.
Kansas Senator Carolyn McGinn recently contacted Aaron and told him she’d try to help him with Nikko’s Law.
“Nikko was a champion, so I want to be a champion,” Aaron said.
To help Aaron's campaign and support Nikko's Law sign the online petition here.
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