Lough Melvin: Warning of shoreline 'sludge' after dog deaths

It is understood that at least six dogs have now died after attending the Lough Melvin area of Garrison last week.

Pictured at Lough Melvin, from left: Amanda Heslop whose dog Mollie died after being on the shoreline Lough Melvin, Michelle Duffy, Alison and David McQuade, who lost their dog Axel, and Sinn Fein Councillor Anthony Feely.

Horrendous

Alison McQuade’s Lurcher-Saluki cross Axel was one of the dogs that lost their life.

“It’s horrendous,” said Alison, speaking to The Impartial Reporter.

Alison and her husband David, who are from Belfast but have a property in Rossinver, had brought four dogs, three of their own and one owned by their son, to Lough Melvin on Wednesday night, May 31.

Three of the dogs had a swim in the lough, while the fourth, Axel, didn’t enter the water but sniffed around the shoreline, seemingly attracted to a black sludge that was evident there.

Axel.

It was only when the couple were driving home, that it became apparent that Axel was not well.

“Axel stuck his head between the two front seats, let out a little whine and his eyes were rolling in his head,” said Alison, noting that when they got to their house at Rossinver, Axel could barely walk: “We laid him down on the grass and he started to foam at the mouth and fit.”

Taking advice from their son who is a vet, the couple attempted to bring Axel to Lakeland Veterinary Services in Derrygonnelly but sadly he died before they got there.

“It all happened so quickly,” said Alison, noting that Axel had died within 25 minutes of being in contact with the black sludge.

Following tests of samples taken, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) confirmed to this newspaper on Tuesday, June 6 that elements of toxic blue-green algae were present in both the water and on the shoreline.

Aware of the toxic nature of blue-green algae, Alison explained that the water at Lough Melvin was clear, with no sign of an algal bloom, otherwise she wouldn’t have let the dogs near the lough. Her and her husband were unaware that blue-green algae could take the form of a black sludge on shorelines.

Now they are warning other dog owners to keep their pets away from the area.

“Somebody needs to put signs up to say it’s not just the water, it’s the shoreline too,” said David, noting that the signs originally erected by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council only warned the public to stay away from the water and to keep dogs on a lead.

“It wasn’t the water with Axel, it was the shoreline,” Alison told this newspaper.

Anthony Feely, a Sinn Fein councillor for the Erne West area was chatting to some of the dog owners impacted. Commenting that they were “distraught” at losing a beloved pet, he said: “Somebody losing a dog is like losing a member of their family, they get very attached to them.”

Councillor Feely also noted that his son had been swimming in Lough Melvin last week.

“He was feeling a little unwell. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not but he’s alright now.

“I’d advise people not to go swimming there until this issue is sorted out.”

Lough Melvin.

Coincidence?

The son of Garrison artist and photographer Michelle Duffy was also in the water on Tuesday of last week and later became ill. Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Michelle commented: “I can’t say that it was because he was in the lake, but it’s just a little too much of a coincidence for me that he has been sick since he entered the water. None of my kids will be in swimming there again.”

The National Anglers Representative Association (NARA) is “seriously concerned” following the reports of the death of dogs resulting from the presence of blue-green algae on Lough Melvin, commenting that it is “indicative of a deterioration of water quality”.

Noting that Lough Melvin is one of the few remaining wild trout and salmon habitats within Europe, the NARA spokesperson added: “It is not acceptable that an environment for such important species is threatened with deteriorating water quality.”

NARA are calling on the Governments in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to immediately establish a joint North South management working group for Lough Melvin with a specific remit of improving water quality in the lake and protecting this important wild trout and salmon habitat.