Erith dog walker forced to take out emergency loan to pay-off £12,000 vets bill after three dogs died at Dartford Lake

In spite of the generous contributions from more than 100 people to help raise £3,000, Ineta Stanley, of Holly Hill Road, hasn’t been able to collect enough money to cover the shortfall of £5,000 from her insurance policy.

On May 17, the 36-year-old was walking 10 dogs with her assistant at Brooklands Lake off Powder Mill Lane when the pack started showing signs of extreme illness.

After rushing all the dogs to the A&E unit of Park Vets Hospital in Sidcup, three died from what has been diagnosed by the Environment Agency (EA) as blue-green algae poisoning and seven others were left in extreme danger.

Ineta Stanley: 'The support has been amazing'

The pack were part of the Top Dog Training School, which Mrs Stanley runs. 

The three pups who died were named as Stanley, a boxer, Pippa, a beagle, and Marley, a mixed breed pup rescued from Spain.

All the other dogs were eventually discharged from the vets, including Mrs Stanley’s own dog Benji, but now face lifelong damage and medical attention. 

The fundraiser was intended not only to cover the vet’s bill but also to support the pets' families, including with funeral costs. 

As it stands, not enough capital has been raised for either of the dog walker's goals. 

Mrs Stanley said: “The support has been amazing with anyone who has had dealings with us because they know how good we are and how passionate we are about what we do.

“There has been a lot of generous people who have donated but we are nowhere near enough what we need.

“Quite a few people have been nasty as well, that’s just the way it is.

“At the end of the day I was saying to them, ring me and ask me anything you want explaining, but what can we do?”

She added: “It was a freak accident, it never happened to me before.

“The pain is really raw, everyone’s still talking about it.

“The only reason I took them was because they love swimming, I love them to bits.

“There were no warning sign saying do not go into the water.

“Do you think I would put my own dogs going in there if that was the case?”

By law, Mrs Stanley and her colleague are allowed to take up to 12 dogs out walking at a time

Initial symptoms of algae poisoning include muscle tremors, an increased breathing rate, vomiting, diarrhoea, collapses and seizures – and can kill pooches in as little as 15 minutes.

Another three dogs died after drinking the toxic algae at a nature reserve near Allerton Bywater, in West Yorkshire, police confirmed in May.

EA confirmed that the blue-green algae count at Brooklands Lake, which can affect fish and birds, has dropped to a safe level.