Dog-Killing Blue-Green Algae Spreads Across U.S. Lakes, Ponds

Several weeks ago, Melissa Martin took her beloved West Highland white terriers, Abby and Izzy, and her Doodle mix named Harpo to a playdate with her neighbors at a nearby pond in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Harpo splashed around in the water for about five minutes, while Abby and Izzy played at the water’s edge.

The next day, all three of her dogs were dead. Cyanobacteria — or blue-green algae — was to blame.