I recently came across a story that reminded me of the dangers of absentmindedly leaving certain foods on the ground. And it made me wonder how many people actually think before they toss things outside.

In this case, it seems this wasn't a situation of simple careless littering, but something that was done with one purpose, but perhaps without the full realization of all the consequences involved.

Essentially, in a nutshell (pardon the pun) what happened was a local lady who likes to feed the squirrels, left some food near the edge of her lawn.

Red Squirrel Leaking Sap in Spring
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She happens to live on a street that's on a popular route for folks who walk dogs. And the food she happened to leave out on this particular afternoon was raisins.

Those with dogs know that if eaten, raisins (and grapes for that matter) can result in extreme illness, if not death, in any canine.

Close up for black raisins
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According to the American Kennel Club, regardless of the breed, age, or sex of your dog, this is one food of which you'll want your pet to steer clear.

"No, dogs should never eat grapes. Grapes and raisins are known to be highly toxic to dogs, though research has yet to pinpoint exactly which substance in the fruit causes this reaction...Unfortunately, even consuming one grape or raisin can be fatal. Ingesting the fruit could potentially lead to acute (sudden) kidney failure in dogs."

Sadly, one eager pup, out for a weekend walk, stopped at the edge of this squirrel lovers yard and made a quick snack out of what had been left in the yard. Subsequently, that dog spent a scary 24 hours at the emergency vet clinic, as its owner watched and waited, helplessly until the danger had passed.

Ill golden retriever on operating table in veterinarian's clinic
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I'm going to assume that the person who left the squirrel snacks out, did not realize the issue her effort caused not only for this dog and its family, but any other dog who happened to come across this tasty but potentially deadly tread in her yard.

Seneca Riggins, Townsquare Media
Seneca Riggins, Townsquare Media
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The good news; the pup made it through the weekend and was sent home to recuperate.

Dog walker enjoying with dogs while walking outdoors.
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But it's certainly a cautionary tale that reminds us to take care, and perhaps consider carefully what we're leaving out and about where wildlife, but also pets could get ahold of it.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

Gallery Credit: Rachel Cavanaugh

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KEEP READING: Here are 6 foods from your cookout that could harm your dog

 

LOOK: 11 tick-borne illnesses and what to watch out for during your outdoor adventures

Stacker compiled a list of 11 common tick-borne diseases in the U.S. and what symptoms to watch out for, using a variety of medical and government sources. 

Gallery Credit: Martha Sandoval

 

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