A seventh dog has died after being exposed to a mystery illness that continues to plague the Venice Canals, deepening concern among residents already reeling from earlier pet deaths. The most recent victim, a 7-year-old terrier, had been walked along the canals while visiting from Arizona, the dog’s owner confirmed.
Environmental officials with L.A. County Watershed visited the area Tuesday afternoon to take samples of the murky water. One resident told Westside Current a dead duck had been spotted in a small boat docked in the canals.
Ginger was just given a clean bill of health before she experienced a deadly seizure the night of July 21, 2025. Credit: Taylor
“The stench along the eastern side of the canals is horrific. You have to hold your breath to avoid getting sick from the smell,” said resident Elaine Scott. “It has never smelled this bad.”
Meanwhile, warning signs previously posted around a home at 28th Avenue and Ocean Front Walk were removed Tuesday morning. The new tenant told Westside Current the property owner had sent someone to clean up a white powdery substance believed to be ant repellent.
A neighbor said she witnessed a man sweeping up the powder and disposing of it in a trash can near the garage.
“What’s alarming is that this stuff was dumped in a green garbage bin reserved for foliage and leaves, rather than the black, non-recyclable trash can,” she said.
The growing crisis has galvanized the Venice community, which has reported at least six previous dog deaths and more than ten additional cases of serious illness in recent weeks. The first death occurred July 6; the latest before Tuesday’s was reported July 27. One dog remains in intensive care.
Longtime resident Barbara Malsch lost her dog, Shadow, on July 21.
“She had a habit—she would lick her paws when we got home from walks,” Malsch said. “She stopped eating. She was throwing up even though she hadn’t eaten anything. The vet said it was her kidneys—she had at least six more months. But she died at home with me just days later.”
“I am heartbroken,” she added, describing her rescue pup as “pure joy and much more than just a pet.”
Five days later, Taylor, another local dog owner, lost her one-year-old Golden Retriever, Ginger, after the puppy suffered a severe seizure following a walk near the canals. Ginger had recently received a clean bill of health.
“I loved her so much. She was beyond special,” Taylor said. “I cannot believe she’s gone. She just turned 1 on June 22 and died June 25. Heartbroken doesn’t even come close to explaining it.”
In response, Ramon J. Goni, a member of the Venice Canal Association and founder of the neighborhood group Know Your Neighbor (KYN), has mobilized volunteers to track symptoms and timelines in a shared spreadsheet. The data has been shared with city and county health officials.
“Some dog owners started connecting the dots. Everyone has come together to help and find the cause, which is still unknown,” Goni said. “We don’t want to jump to any conclusions. What we’re doing is twofold: raising awareness and encouraging pet owners to be extra cautious.”
Flyers listing symptoms—vomiting, lethargy, seizures—and precautionary tips have been distributed door to door. Goni’s team is also urging residents to report any potential environmental hazards, including at the property on Ocean and 28th, where photographs show white powder visibly spread along sidewalks.
A sample of the substance has been collected for testing. A state lab necropsy is also scheduled for later Tuesday.
Venice Canal Association President Mark Galanty urged the public to remain vigilant, but patient.
“We are here to support each other, and right now we are sending our sincerest condolences to those community members grieving their beloved dogs,” he said.
Dog owners are advised to report findings to the VCA and seek immediate veterinary care if symptoms appear.
By Sandra Clark. Published in partnership with the Westside Current.