A devastated owner claims her beloved dog died in her arms after choking on a solid rubber ball - and even racing him to the vets within minutes didn't save him. Giulia Brown was finishing off her breakfast in the kitchen while her 'baby' English bull terrier relaxed in the living room with his favourite toy - a green Sportspet ball that she says was bought from Pets at Home.
But the owner claims tragedy struck when eight-year-old Elmo somehow swallowed the £3 'tough bounce' rubber ball and he started choking. As Giulia walked into the living room she could see Elmo pawing at the wall and, thinking his beloved ball had rolled under the sofa, went to fetch it for him.
But to her horror she realised the ball, which she says was bought from the Farnborough branch of Pets At Home, wasn't out of reach but lodged down his throat and he was silently choking. Terrified, Giulia shouted for her husband while she put her hand down his throat to try and fish it out. But the 37-year-old claims the rubber was too hard to squeeze and she was unable to get a firm grip on it due to Elmo's saliva.
