DOG owners in the Marloes area have been advised to exercise increased caution following the recent discovery of more lumps of palm oil washed up on the shores of Marloes beach. This warning comes after a harrowing incident where a beloved pet tragically lost its life due to the ingestion of palm oil on Newgale beach, further along the Pembrokeshire coast.

The latest discovery was made on Saturday, July 1, by John Lloyd, who was out walking his dog when the incident occurred. Recounting the alarming incident, Lloyd stated, “My dog found the large lump and managed to eat what I thought was a small flake of it. I ran over and got it off him, and it stank of chemicals. The following day he was sick and vomited up a lump the size of a small egg. I just can’t believe how it’s legal to put those overboard.”

Just four weeks ago, a heartbreaking incident unfolded when a three-year-old Maltese poodle crossed with a Jack Russell died after consuming a palm oil berg on Newgale beach. It is suspected that these palm oil bergs are being washed up on Pembrokeshire’s beaches as ships or tankers wash out their ballast tanks. The resulting oil bergs are then carried onto the shore, endangering unsuspecting pets and wildlife.

The palm oil bergs vary in appearance, often appearing as small, round objects of any color. The lumps discovered on Marloes beach this weekend were white, in contrast to the black berg that claimed the life of the three-year-old dog, Nellie.

“They’re off-loaded from oil tanks around 12 miles out at sea, and when they’re washed up, they have a very attractive scent to dogs as they’re covered in palm oil,” explained Lucy Beswick, Nellie’s distraught owner, in an interview with the Western Telegraph. “And this is why Nellie ate one. They are extremely toxic and contain cyanide. It’s a disgrace how the oil tanks are allowed to do this as it’s not only killing animals on land, but must also be harming and killing sea life. Please be on the lookout, as my family and I are beside ourselves with grief following the death of Nellie.”

The gravity of the situation has prompted the Pembrokeshire County Council to issue a warning about the dangers posed by palm oil bergs. While these lumps are not harmful to humans or children, they can prove fatal to pets and other wildlife.

“Palm oil is often seen in dark, yellowish, or white waxy blocks,” commented a spokesperson from the county council. “It’s not harmful to humans but, as was displayed last month, can be fatal to pets.”

Nellie fell ill on the same night she had visited Newgale beach. Initially, Lucy Beswick believed it to be a recurrence of pancreatitis, an ailment that the young dog had been diagnosed with a few weeks prior. However, by the following morning, Nellie’s temperature had risen to 38.5 degrees Celsius, and signs of dehydration became evident.

Nellie was promptly taken to a veterinarian, where she received intravenous fluids and an enema to flush out any potential toxins. Despite these efforts, her abdomen, face, and chin continued to swell, indicating that she had ingested a poisonous substance.

“She was given an anaphylactic, but because she was so small, her organs just wouldn’t cope,” expressed a grief-stricken Lucy Beswick.

In the early hours of Sunday, June 5, Nellie tragically convulsed and succumbed to the effects of the palm oil ingestion, leaving her family devastated by the sudden loss.

As the Pembrokeshire coast continues to be plagued by these hazardous palm oil lumps, dog owners are implored to remain vigilant during their beach outings. It is crucial to keep a close eye on their four-legged companions and prevent them from coming into contact with any unidentified substances. This collective effort will ensure the safety and well-being of beloved pets while enjoying the beautiful shores of Pembrokeshire.