Crash, Dewey Hero Dog, Dies Of Suspected Antifreeze Poisoning

Crash, an award-winning hero dog from Dewey, died Monday. Owner Bill Vaughan suspects the English Shepherd was poisoned with antifreeze but said it's impossible to prove.

"We were going to send his kidneys off to OSU, but they said it's too late to tell," he said.

Ingesting antifreeze causes crystals to form in an animal's urine. Those chemicals cause kidney damage leading to death by kidney failure in most cases.

Since the poison would've had to have been ingested some time before Crash's death, veterinarians told Vaughan it was unlikely there would be any trace of the chemical remaining.

3/12/2012 Related Story: Dewey Dog Nominated For National 'Hero Dog Award'

Crash was a rescue and drug dog who honed his skills working around a ranch. He is in the running for the national "Hero Dog Award" presented by the American Humane Association. Last year, he won the Hero award from the Oklahoma Animal Hall of Fame.

Voting begins April 1 on the American Humane Association web site.

"We worked all over the United States with him," Vaughan said Tuesday morning. "He had a great nose.

"The greatest thing about that dog? He just loved women and kids," Vaughan said. "He would protect them in a second, and that's something I didn't teach him. It's just the way he was."

Crash was 12 years old. He leaves his legacy behind in his son Clem, who was at Vaughan's side during a telephone interview.

"He moves horses for me, just like his daddy did," Vaughan said.

Learn more about care for a pet in the event of antifreeze poisoning.