SAN ANTONIO — The concern over blue-green algae has spread to San Antonio along the Guadalupe River.
- Woman's dog dies after swimming in Guadelupe River
- Unclear is blue-green algae is the cause of death
- Blue-green algae can be harmful to dogs
Blue-green algae can in fact harm a dog and make them sick in the best case scenario. Then there's the worst case scenario that Tamra Massey dealt with, when her dog passed away from what she believes was ingesting blue-green algae.
"We'd hook her up to her little harness up there and she knew where we were going, and she'd be excited before we got there," Massey said.
She isn't 100 percent sure that her dog, Fina, died as a result of blue-green algae being present in the Guadalupe River, but the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality told her it is in there.
The San Antonio River Authority has a staff that is trained to make water and ecosystem observations, and takes regular water samples throughout the San Antonio River Basin.
They issued this statement to us saying, "The River Authority has not identified any blooms of blue-green algae, otherwise known as cyanobacteria...The River Authority will continue to make observations during our regularly scheduled water quality monitoring and will inform the public if this water quality concern is identified."
Whether it was blue-green algae or not, Massey says she's not trying to create a panic or blame anyone. She feels enough guilt herself, and wants people to be aware of what can be hiding in a seemingly clear body of water.
"I truly care about people and care about their animals and their families. I just don't want anybody else to go through this. I really just don't," she said.