Frida, a black Labrador, died just before her first birthday after eating piles of rotting grass that were dumped on Richmond Park in Solihull. The grass, which had been left in large mounds since May 16, caused severe illness in two dogs. Frida passed away on June 21, just two days after coming into contact with the grass.
Details of the Incident
Frida's owners, both named Lauren, had been walking their dog regularly with a local group. On the evening after a walk, Frida refused to eat dinner and began vomiting the next day. Louise Baker, a 44-year-old member of the walking group, recounted the events: 'The evening after her walk, she didn't eat her dinner, then she started being sick the next day. We'd seen two big mounds of grass which had been there since May 16.'
Another dog in the group, Lottie, had also fallen ill after eating the grass. Lottie, aged around five, required emergency surgery to remove an infection believed to have been caused by the grass. Louise added: 'Lottie had to have an emergency operation and they said she had an infection. We tried to stop them from eating it but we didn't know it was deadly.'
Frida's Decline and Death
Frida's symptoms rapidly worsened. She vomited 11 times in one night and was taken to the vet, who administered anti-sickness medication. Despite treatment, she continued to drool and refused to eat or drink. When her condition did not improve, she was rushed to another veterinary practice via an animal ambulance. Louise described the tragic turn: 'When she was in the ambulance, she exploded blood instead of poo. She just deteriorated from that. They said she had a blood clot in her brain or heart and that was it then, her heart rate didn't come down and she passed away at 6.30am in the morning.'
Council Response and Investigation
Solihull Council confirmed that the pile of grass cuttings was dumped by a third party, not by council contractors. A council spokesperson said: 'Our grounds maintenance in parks uses a method where grass cuttings are distributed evenly across the surface – they do not involve depositing grass cuttings into large, concentrated piles. This method of evenly distributing grass cuttings has been in consistent use for many years.' Council officers visited the site and determined that the volume and nature of the piles were indicative of unauthorised dumping. The council urged residents to report any waste dumping by calling 0121 704 8000.
Community Action and Fundraising
Local dog walkers, including Louise, removed the grass mounds and covered the area with sand to prevent further incidents. Frida's owners had pet insurance covering up to £2,000, but they were left with an £8,000 bill for extensive treatment. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the costs. Louise said: 'Once we figured out that Lottie and Frida had both been near the grass and had been ill, we knew it was the cause. We all walk the same route and there's nothing else it could have been.'
