A flyer warning Seattle residents about the risk of dogs overdosing on drugs has been making the rounds online, and it’s igniting some heated reactions.
Andrea Suarez, founder of We Heart Seattle, mentioned on Sunday that “pet overdose deaths are so prevalent that the county is distributing flyers on administering Narcan and performing CPR.” She reportedly found the flyer from the Indigenous Harm Reduction Team (IHRT) in the Belltown area. The flyer shares a frank message: “Naloxone and dogs. They’re dogs. They put things in their mouths. These are accidents. If your furry friend ODs, it doesn’t make you a bad person.”
Suarez expressed her dismay in a video, stating, “It’s really unfortunate that we now have to have instructions on how to save a dog from an opioid overdose.” Others in the video voiced their frustration too. One woman remarked, “It’s maddening that this is allowed to happen,” while another added, “People aren’t standing up and saying enough is enough.”
The flyer goes on to explain how dogs have a tendency to sniff or lick things they shouldn’t, emphasizing that it’s a natural behavior: “They may lick the ground and discarded utensils and foil… They might leave marks on our hands. They’re dogs. They put things in their mouths.”
It also advises pet owners to keep a close watch on their dogs if they suspect drug exposure, noting that “if something happens, it often happens within the first 30 minutes.” However, it’s also possible that effects may not be immediate, which is, well, unsettling.
The situation caught the attention of conservative podcaster Brandi Kruse, who tweeted about it, expressing disbelief that addicts are told that exposing their pets to dangerous drugs is merely an “accident.” She added, “I wasn’t trying to get too angry at the world today, but this is just unacceptable.”
Earlier this year, NBC News reported on several puppies that had to be revived after suspected drug overdoses at a fire, highlighting the severity of the issue in the area.
On another note, Seattle officials are grappling with human overdose cases as well. In fact, recent reports indicate that King County prosecutors filed a substantial number of felony drug trafficking charges in early 2026, with a significant portion occurring in certain Seattle neighborhoods. So far, the region has seen a rising number of overdose deaths this year.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration also shared alarming statistics, announcing the seizure of approximately 3.4 million lethal doses of fentanyl linked to two drug trafficking groups operating in the Western District of Washington.
As Seattle continues to confront these challenging issues, many are wondering how the community can move beyond this overwhelming crisis.
