Strange

@carolbee (16230)
United States
September 24, 2008 8:38am CST
Last week our neighbor called the fire department. Here comes the big truck. Well I didn't think much about it since this happens quite often. I asked several days later what happened. Was told the dog had a flea collar on and emitted some kind of gas and the odor was overwhelming. This was all outside in the backyard and not in their house. As a result, the dog was real sick from the allergic reaction to the collar. Has anyone ever heard of this kind of thing happening? So the fire department was called to check out the status of the odor.
3 people like this
10 responses
• United States
29 Sep 08
I can't imagine calling the fire dept over it but I do know of at least one collar that is a problem. I don't recall the name but it's all brown and smells horrific. It's about half the price of Hartz and convinced me to always spend the extra(I think it was seargents) The smell of the flea collar would sicken everyone in the house and we'd put the dog outside. In a couple hours the dog would be sick from the smell and we'd have to get rid of the collar resulting in us spending the extra for a hartz collar anyway. My grandmother bought one to save money and then forgot about the problem and bought another of the same type a couple years later with the same results. i love a bargain but sometimes the extra coin is worth it.
2 people like this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I sure understand what you are saying. No point in making everyone sick over a cheaper brand. My problem was that I didn't believe this person. The way it was explained to me was rather bizarre. Thanks for responding.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
27 Sep 08
Yeah carolbee, it’s quite to normal to call the fire department for help to solve the problems like finding snake in house, bee hive on the tree beside the house, cat couldn’t get down from a tall big tree etc. But it’s rather amazing and could hardly to believe that the odor from such a small flea collar which is to get rid of the flea from the dog could cause such overwhelming odor and gas all over the backyard. posting and take care.
2 people like this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
27 Sep 08
I sure didn't think a flea collar would cause a gas odor but guess anything is impossible. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
24 Sep 08
That is so very strange and I have never heard anything like that. I wonder if it was a collar from a well known company that we always hear about? The odor must have really been bad to call the fire department out. I really hope the dog is ok. I don't use flea collar on my dog, we use the advantix drop once a month.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
24 Sep 08
I didn't think to ask the neighbor what brand she was using. The dog is fine. This particular neighbor loves to have the fire department and police come over to her house. She calls them fairly regularly. It's like the kid who cried wolf! Thanks for responding.
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
24 Sep 08
Oh no, for the dogs sake I hope it was not true but if she keeps this up they need to hit her with a big fine. If she calls them for a false reason someone might really need them while they are out on a wild goose chase with her.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
24 Sep 08
I have never heard them having an odor but have heard that you are not supposed to let little children touch some of the flea collars that are out there because they can have reactions to them! I suppose with the chemical on them to kill the fleas it has to be strong!
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
24 Sep 08
Am sure the chemical used to kill fleas is strong but to emit a poisonous gas? This is almost too much for me to believe. The neighbor told me it smelled like natural gas. Maybe I should research flea collars in case I may have to "eat my words." Thanks for responding.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Sep 08
Just put your neighbor on the list of those who aren't all there.....I have a friend that is a policeman....says that one day someone calls 911 because a bird keeps flying into their picture window.....and he has tons of stories like this...
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Sep 08
There are anti-bark collars that have a spray. PetSmart in my area just started selling them. They have them in their locked case. They have counsel people and teach them how to use them before they sell them. I think it's citronella. That stuff in large doses would make me sick, too.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
25 Sep 08
I have heard of an anti-bark collar but didn't know they had a spray. I still don't understand how a flea collar would case a gas odor from being on a dog's neck. You are right about the citronella smell making anyone sick. Thanks for responding.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
26 Sep 08
There are two types of anti-bark collars that I know of. One is an electric one that zaps the animal; the other is an automatic spray. Each senses the barking, but tries to stop if a different way. I believe the spray one is citronella. I've only seen the two kinds in a case at PetSmart. Glass case with a key and the person has to get a manager and be counseled in how to use it before they can buy it (but some people say they've had one before and know all about it, they just don't want to learn anything, so how do you know those people from people who really did use one before and know what they're doing?).
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
26 Sep 08
I don't know of a spray flea collar, I think it was probably an anti-bark collar that caused the gas. But there are sprays for fleas. Just haven't seen any for the collars to spray for fleas. I know citronella is usually used for keeping bugs away, that is why I was confused when someone asked about an anti-bark collar with citronella. It is confusing.
@YourGod (36)
• United States
25 Sep 08
Hi there.. Thanks for the information.. I appreciate it that you told me.. Have a nice day..
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
25 Sep 08
Thanks for responding and hope you have a nice day too.
1 person likes this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
24 Sep 08
That sounds a bit bizarre to me. I've never heard of anything like that happening from a flea collar. But I guess anything is possible. At least the fire department came out to check things out anyway.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
24 Sep 08
The fire department was here less than 10 minutes. They are required to run every call no matter what it is. This whole thing sounded crazy to me. Thanks for responding.
24 Sep 08
Hi carolbee, No, I've heard of fire department coming out fro the smell, but a gas board people wou;d.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
25 Sep 08
This particular person never makes any sense to me or my family. We are always scratching our heads when it comes to her stories. Thanks for responding.
• United States
24 Sep 08
I have to agree with this sounding very bazaar. I would not have called the Fire Department. They are busy enough. I have never heard of such a thing. Why not just remove the collar form the dog. Poor little dog. That is awful that the dog got sick from it. I hope the dog is ok.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
24 Sep 08
The dog is fine and none of us believe the dog owner. This is just too crazy to believe. Our son-in-law has been a firefighter for many years and he hasn't heard of this kind of situation either. Thanks for responding.
@Mtstehar (19)
• United States
24 Sep 08
Wow! I have never heard of anything quite like that before! That is pretty strange...I wonder what caused the allergic reaction? I hope you find out more. That is definitely very interesting
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
24 Sep 08
I asked our daughter about it, she's a firefighter, but she never heard of this happening either. This particular neighbor is not always honest so has in the past fabricated stories so I don't know what to believe. Thanks for responding.