Terrified Dog Dies Of Heart Attack After Bonfire Night Fireworks

Judith and Malcolm Watson have been left shattered after their dog Dexter collapsed in their home in Hemlington, a housing estate of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. Shortly after 6:00 pm on Friday, Dexter experienced shaking and cowering due to Bonfire Night fireworks.

The couple's pet dog was "scared to death" because of fireworks that could be heard around their house in Hemlington. A loud bang made Dexter run out of the room and when Judith found him, Dexter had already collapsed downstairs. The terrified Dexter died because of a heart attack.

The Labrastaff or Labrador Staffie cross, which was supposedly owned by the couple's son Michael, passed him to his parents because Dexter didn't get along well with his other dogs.

Dexter was loved by the whole family, especially Judith, 63, and Malcolm, 67. He would walk and accompany Malcolm to the fish and chip shop to be rewarded with some sausages every Friday. But, on the fateful Friday, the couple had to keep him indoors because of the Bonfire Night, as Dexter was scared of loud noises.

Judith told speaking to Teeside Live, "I thought he was just in there trembling at first but he was laid flat out on the floor. Then I realised he had gone."

"I don't know exactly where dogs' hearts are but I tried pressing his chest and blowing into his mouth. But it was so quick and there was nothing I could do to bring him back," she added.

Judith called Malcolm who rushed home to see Dexter's state. She recounted how she was screaming and shouting Dexter's name over and over and hugging him and crying for a long time. The devastated Judith continued that she wanted to hit something.

She said that there was a loud bang and then another when Dexter was gone. "It did die down eventually. And it's all finished now - people have had their so-called fun but our whole lives have changed."

He was also cherished by the couple's two-year-old granddaughter, Liliah-Mae. They had to explain what happened to Dexter. Judith added that they had to tell their granddaughter that Dexter was not in their house as she kept talking about him when she visited her grandparents.

Dexter was the best buddy of the family. He was 10 years old. He loved to walk, he adored beaches and always liked playing with balls though he had arthritis. Dexter was "bright and happy and highly energetic," described Judith. "So many things are going to change for us. We have lost a member of our family," she said

Judith works the night shift at Tesco in Coulby Newham. She chose to work at night so that she could be with Dexter for the whole day. Judith and Dexter were irreplaceable for each other. They would sleep together on the bed, and Dexter would always wake up Judith when it was time. The couple always allotted and planned their holidays in favor of Dexter.