A legislative proposal could make antifreeze less appealing to pets. “Antifreeze right now has a very sweet odor and taste,” explains Alyson Bodai, Wisconsin state director for the Humane Society the United States, “It attracts a lot of animals. A bittering agent would be a chemical that is added which would deter them from ingesting the product. It could save thousands of pets every year.” Bodai says while many of those poisonings are accidental due to improperly stored, or spilled antifreeze, some are deliberate.
Gary Godding, a board member of the Dane County Humane Society, says pet owners can incur substantial costs – if the animal survives. “If it happens to your pet, it’s a huge problem,” says Godding. “I would suspect (veterinary bills of) hundreds, if not into the thousands. Bodai says as little as a teaspoon of antifreeze can be fatal. It’s unclear whether the bill (AB 842), from Milwaukee Democrat, Representative Christine Sinicki, will make it to the governor’s desk in the waning days of this legislative session. Eleven other states already have similar laws.
Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3) AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)