‘Our 50kg Cane Corso died after choking on £12 toy – we want justice’

A dog owner has said she wants ‘justice’ after her pet died after swallowing a toy rope supposedly designed for ‘aggressive chewers’.

Antonia Speariett, 31, purchased the dog toy from Amazon for her Cane Corso, named King Cane, before fun and games soon became a medical emergency,

The five-year-old dog was found by a vet to have intestinal blockage after chewing part of the Sharlovy toy, which was bought for £12.

Mrs Speariett, 31, said she noticed Cane fall ill and stop eating soon after playing with the multicoloured toy.

She said: ‘As the days went on, his condition became increasingly worrying, and I knew he needed veterinary attention.’

The worried mother and her partner Ryan Roocroft, 31, took him to their local vets, where it was established that Cane needed emergency surgery, as medics became concerned the 50kg dog had sustained damage inside his abdomen and perforated intestines.

Ms Speariett said: ‘Losing Cane has devastated me, and I am still trying to come to terms with the loss of a much-loved member of my family.

‘However, I feel this story is about more than my own heartbreak.

‘Dog toys are everyday products that owners purchase believing they are suitable for their pets.’

The dog owner added that her story raised questions about the safety of dog toys and treats for sale online.

‘The toy had good reviews, and other owners said their dog liked it’, she said.

‘I never thought a toy for aggressive chewers would ever cause a problem.’

She added: ‘I would welcome the opportunity for the seller or manufacturer to respond.

‘If sharing his story could help protect even one other dog, I would feel that something positive could come from this tragedy.

‘At the end of the day, because of these toys, I have lost my best friend.’

Ms Speariett has since paid more than £4,000 for hospital treatments, tests as well as costs for euthanising and cremating her dog.

Rather than a traditional manufacturer, Sharlovy is a brand name sold on various e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Shein and Walmart.

A spokesperson for Amazon said: ‘We were very sorry to hear about this. We are in touch with the customer.’

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