AUSTIN, Texas – City officials are reopening Red Bud Isle after it was closed in August. Water testing in the area had found toxic blue-green algae that was attributed to the deaths of multiple dogs.
- Park closed in August
- Last water test done on Nov. 12
- No more traces of algae or toxin detected
The off-leash dog park was reopened Friday, November 22, at noon. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department said no visible signs of blue-green algae were found in the area.
Blue-green algae can produce neurotoxins that can be fatal to animals that come into contact with it.
The city says water sample testing last done on November 12 also came back with no traces of the toxin.
Pet owners are warned though that despite testing coming back negative for the toxin, there is a risk to letting dogs swim in any natural body of water.
Spectrum News spoke with multiple pet owners whose dogs died after swimming in natural bodies of water across Central Texas.
Claire Saccardi’s dog Harper died right before the pet swimming ban was put in place on Lady Bird Lake. At the time, she described the day like being in a horror movie.
"More than anything, I just want people to know about this because it was something that I had never heard of. Of course, I would have never gone if I had heard of it," Saccardi said in August.
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