Douglas County officials were notified Monday of an unfortunate situation where a dog’s life was tragically taken by a drain in Topaz Lake.
The dog owner told News 4-Fox 11 that more warning could have protected her chocolate Labrador, Kumi, before being pulled into a whirlpool drain at Topaz Lake on Saturday while attempting to retrieve a stick.
The incident is the result of drainage efforts at Topaz Lake where water is released from the man made reservoir into the Walker River. Douglas County manages the parks portion of Topaz Lake. The lake and water system is managed by Walker River Irrigation District. There are signs near the drainage warning people to stay clear of the area.
Douglas County Public Information Officer Melissa Blosser released the following statement Wednesday:
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the loss of the dog. We immediately reached out to the owner of the animal to find out what happened and express condolences. The Walker River Irrigation District, managing authority of this Lake, is putting out additional signage to warn people to stay clear of the area. We have never had an incident related to the drain in the past. Dogs are not allowed on the property without a leash for their safety and the safety of others. We will continue to monitor the drain and work with Walker River Irrigation District.”
