Throughout the South, as well as other parts of the country, this summer has been particularly filled with reports of toxic blue green algae blooms that, to date, have killed at least eight dogs in the South, alone. In early August, four dogs died in Texas, followed by a dog in Georgia, and three dogs in North Carolina. All were swimming in what appeared to be normal water - but unbeknownst to their human companions, the water was laced with an unseen toxic algae bloom. It took only hours for each of the dogs to succumb to the effects.

As a result, word spread quickly among dog owners. In addition, those states and others — including South Carolina — put a priority on testing waters to make sure if a bloom was detected, then word could be spread and measures could be taken to save our dogs and clean the water.

Over the weekend, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources reportedly began working with Anne Springs Close Greenway in Rock Hill after the Greenway announced the toxic blue green algae has been discovered in Lake Frances, one of the dog ponds at the Greenway's dog park.

The Adventure Road Entrance of Anne Springs Close Greenway is the gateway to the Mary Warner Mack Dog Park, a premier playground for dogs and their owners, and a favorite spot for many Rock Hill residents to socialize their canine companions.

The park includes two ponds but so far, only Lake Frances has been affected. As of this writing, the website for Anne Springs Close Greenway has a notice on the front page indicating all dog park trails are closed for maintenance. But in erring to the side of caution, dog owners visiting the Greenway as well as any other dog owner in the Palmetto State, would be wise to assume where one pond with stagnant waters underneath the glaring heat of the sun can quickly be scattered with the toxic blue green algae, others could as well.

Now that the toxic blue green algae has been detected in one South Carolina pond/lake, it's safe to keep your dog away from any standing water, ponds, or lakes in the Palmetto State until the heat of the summer season finally breaks. Fortunately, no dogs have been reported as passing due to toxic blue green algae poisoning this year in South Carolina. (Let's spread the word and do all we can to keep it that way!)

How do you spot an algae bloom? Unfortunately it's not as easy as it sounds. For instance, although entirely visible in this satellite image from 2011 depicting the worst algae bloom Lake Erie had seen in decades, this massive outbreak was merely a freshwater, non-toxic bloom. However, most toxic blooms aren't this visible and lurk below the water's surface posing a toxic and deadly danger to dogs as well as possibly uncomfortable side effects for humans.

The phytoplankton in the toxic blooms ultimately cause respiratory failure in dogs — and for humans, can cause effects that are usually not life threatening, like gastric distress, headaches, eye irritation, fever, and rashes.

Dogs exposed to the toxic blue green algae usually start showing signs of distress in a matter of minutes but it can also take up to a few hours for symptoms to show. Look for excessive drooling, stumbling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the stool, muscle twitches, or tenderness in the abdomen area.

So far, the toxic algae has only been reported in Rock Hill and is localized to the dog park at Anne Springs Close Greenway; however, officials at the Greenway have reportedly said they'll test other bodies of water within the park starting Monday, September 23. You can follow any additional notices posted on the Greenway's website here.

To protect your dog to the fullest, simply keep it on a leash when outside if not in an enclosed area. If you suspect your dog was exposed, seek veterinary care immediately.