00:00Miranda Lardy didn't expect taking her dog Scout on a trip to Lake Ginandera to end in tragedy.
00:09On the walk back to the parking lot he started collapsing and having symptoms and he couldn't jump into the car by the time we got there. I had to pick him up.
00:18Scout had just been swimming in the lake and while he was rushed straight to the vet he couldn't be saved.
00:25He's one of a growing number of dogs in Canberra which have been treated for suspected algae poisoning.
00:31Given that we've had several dogs present in a short period of time I think it's probably safest to stay away from the lake.
00:38Algae is always present in the lake and recent testing by University of Canberra researchers hasn't shown any increase.
00:46The ACT government says it too monitors the levels regularly.
00:50The Environment Protection Authority does weekly visual and olfactory or smelling tests of the water in the lakes and the rivers.
01:00Since the Kelpie's death signs have been put up warning pet owners.
01:04The sign doesn't actually say that the lake's closed and the lake isn't closed.
01:08The sign's indicating that people should pay attention to what they're seeing and smelling in the lake.
01:14But Miranda says the risk wasn't apparent.
01:17It didn't have a blue tinge, you know the water itself was clear.
01:21And she wants other owners to know what she didn't.
01:24Because even if you are careful it may not be enough.
01:27An uncertain risk for the pets close to our hearts.
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