09/18/2026
I'd like to thank my son Alex, the Toller Gods, and Westview Veterinary Hospital in Powell River, British Columbia for looking after our sweet Jigs.
Just before 2 am on Monday morning I received a phone call from my son Alex. "Mom, Jigs ate half a package of sugarless gum. I googled it and says xylitol is poisonous for dogs. Should I get her to the vets?" My foggy brain kicked into gear and I said "Yes, get her to the vets right away!"
Alex called the vets and they rushed Jigs to the vet hospital - a six minute drive from our home on Cranberry Lake. It was just after 10 pm on Sunday night in British Columbia but the next day for me out on the east coast. Now for those of you who don't know, Jigs is my foundation girl and mother of three litters of beautiful NS Duck Tolling Retriever puppies. She was bred by Barbara Blauvelt of Scotiapride Kennels in Yarmouth, NS and she introduced me to the show ring and several other dog sports. I've had Tollers since I was a kid, my dad got me a Toller when I was seven from Eldon Pace and he was called Alexander Rufus of Schubendorf and then we had a second Toller from Avery Nickerson in Yarmouth (I grew up up in NS but moved to BC in my late twenties and lived there for 33 years before moving back to NS). Alex and Jigs lived together until I moved to NS two years ago. I promised Alex that after Jigs had one more litter she would be retired and I'd send her back to BC to be with him as she's always been his dog although everyone in our family adores Jigs! She's driven, relentless and super smart. She introduced me to a whole new world I didn't know existed before she entered my life.
Circling back to Sunday night, there was little I could do but wait and while I waited I hoped and prayed. I was glad that Alex acted so quickly and knew that Westview Vets would do everything they could to help Jigs but it is hard being so far away from those you love during an emergency.
The vets pumped Jigs stomach out and they saw several chunks of gum - still wrapped in paper! That alone may have saved her life, I don't know but all I can say is Thank You for saving our girl.
I shared this story with a Toller friend of mine the other day and she reminded me that since cold and flu season is now upon us, it would be good to remind people not to leave cough drops (as well as sugarless gum) lying around on your coffee table.