speak slowly so they will understand how important this is. I am wearing my most serious outfit: black turtleneck, black jeans, and a teal scarf for a little pop of color. It makes me feel very artistic.
I take a deep breath and say, “We need to discuss antifreeze.”
No one says anything.
“We sell antifreeze,” Josh says. “Do you need some? I can run up and ask my dad for a gallon.” He rises from his chair. Maggie shakes her head, and Josh sits back down.
“No,” Maggie says. “We don’t need any. Antifreeze poisoning is what Puff died from. And we had a very sick dog in the clinic last night, and Gran says he has antifreeze poisoning, too. She still isn’t sure if he’s going to make it.”
Argh, she just blurted it all out! I was building up to the explanation for dramatic effect. I was going to tell them all the details as soon as I knew I had everyone’s attention.
Sunita’s eyes grow wide.
“So you think there could be someoneintentionally poisoning animals? Or maybe there’s an antifreeze leak somewhere?” she asks.
“Well, we don’t know for sure, of course. But with two cases of antifreeze poisoning, we should start looking into both,” I reply.
“We’ve had a report of dead raccoons, a whole family of them,” Brenna says. Her family runs a wildlife rehabilitation center. “I wonder if it could be related. I’d better call my folks.” Brenna gets up and dials her cell. I watch her move to the Ping-Pong table end of the basement to talk quietly.
“So the way I see it, we have a two-part project ahead of us.” I look at the Vet Volunteers one by one to be sure that everyone is ready to hear this. Good. We’re all focused today. I motion to Maggie to hold up my construction paper posters.
Brenna is off the phone and settled again in her chair. I point to the first poster.
“This is antifreeze—”
“Or ethylene glycol,” Maggie interrupts.
“Or ethylene glycol,” I continue. “Sometimes it’s called engine coolant, too. Anyway, we’ll just refer to it as antifreeze. This is what it looks like.”
The Vet Volunteers lean forward in their chairsto see the picture I’ve printed from the Internet.
My six facts are printed on the posters, but I know that it will have more impact if I also recite them to the group. So I begin:
“Antifreeze is a bright yellow or bright green liquid with a slightly sweet smell and taste.
Antifreeze is used in the radiators of cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles, like boats and RVs, to keep them from overheating in the summer or freezing in the winter.
Antifreeze can leak out of vehicles when radiators and cooling lines are damaged.
People may spill antifreeze if they don’t pour carefully.
Spilled and leaked antifreeze is appealing to animals and young children because of its color, its smell, and its sweet taste.”
I take a big breath. “This is our most important fact:
Antifreeze is a powerful poison, so sipping or just licking it can kill an animal or a small child.”
I look around at a speechless Vet Volunteers group. And then, everyone seems to talk at once. Josh remembers hearing about antifreeze poisoning at his old school in Pittsburgh; Sunita asks about symptoms; Brenna takes notes. Cuddles hops around under the table, then stands on her hind legs to see what is up there. Jules plucks a carrot stick from the plate and gives it to her. Cuddles goes to work on her treat.
“Everyone? Everyone?” I need them to focus so they can hear the rest of my plan. Once they’ve settled again, I take another deep breath and tell them the exciting part.
“I think we need to design a public awareness campaign about the dangers of antifreeze,” I say.
“But first we should try to find out if these poisonings are accidental or intentional,” Brenna says. “We need to find out where the antifreeze is coming from before more animals die!”
“Or kids!” David says. “Just look at Zoe’s list; kids can die from it,
I take a deep breath and say, “We need to discuss antifreeze.”
No one says anything.
“We sell antifreeze,” Josh says. “Do you need some? I can run up and ask my dad for a gallon.” He rises from his chair. Maggie shakes her head, and Josh sits back down.
“No,” Maggie says. “We don’t need any. Antifreeze poisoning is what Puff died from. And we had a very sick dog in the clinic last night, and Gran says he has antifreeze poisoning, too. She still isn’t sure if he’s going to make it.”
Argh, she just blurted it all out! I was building up to the explanation for dramatic effect. I was going to tell them all the details as soon as I knew I had everyone’s attention.
Sunita’s eyes grow wide.
“So you think there could be someoneintentionally poisoning animals? Or maybe there’s an antifreeze leak somewhere?” she asks.
“Well, we don’t know for sure, of course. But with two cases of antifreeze poisoning, we should start looking into both,” I reply.
“We’ve had a report of dead raccoons, a whole family of them,” Brenna says. Her family runs a wildlife rehabilitation center. “I wonder if it could be related. I’d better call my folks.” Brenna gets up and dials her cell. I watch her move to the Ping-Pong table end of the basement to talk quietly.
“So the way I see it, we have a two-part project ahead of us.” I look at the Vet Volunteers one by one to be sure that everyone is ready to hear this. Good. We’re all focused today. I motion to Maggie to hold up my construction paper posters.
Brenna is off the phone and settled again in her chair. I point to the first poster.
“This is antifreeze—”
“Or ethylene glycol,” Maggie interrupts.
“Or ethylene glycol,” I continue. “Sometimes it’s called engine coolant, too. Anyway, we’ll just refer to it as antifreeze. This is what it looks like.”
The Vet Volunteers lean forward in their chairsto see the picture I’ve printed from the Internet.
My six facts are printed on the posters, but I know that it will have more impact if I also recite them to the group. So I begin:
“Antifreeze is a bright yellow or bright green liquid with a slightly sweet smell and taste.
Antifreeze is used in the radiators of cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles, like boats and RVs, to keep them from overheating in the summer or freezing in the winter.
Antifreeze can leak out of vehicles when radiators and cooling lines are damaged.
People may spill antifreeze if they don’t pour carefully.
Spilled and leaked antifreeze is appealing to animals and young children because of its color, its smell, and its sweet taste.”
I take a big breath. “This is our most important fact:
Antifreeze is a powerful poison, so sipping or just licking it can kill an animal or a small child.”
I look around at a speechless Vet Volunteers group. And then, everyone seems to talk at once. Josh remembers hearing about antifreeze poisoning at his old school in Pittsburgh; Sunita asks about symptoms; Brenna takes notes. Cuddles hops around under the table, then stands on her hind legs to see what is up there. Jules plucks a carrot stick from the plate and gives it to her. Cuddles goes to work on her treat.
“Everyone? Everyone?” I need them to focus so they can hear the rest of my plan. Once they’ve settled again, I take another deep breath and tell them the exciting part.
“I think we need to design a public awareness campaign about the dangers of antifreeze,” I say.
“But first we should try to find out if these poisonings are accidental or intentional,” Brenna says. “We need to find out where the antifreeze is coming from before more animals die!”
“Or kids!” David says. “Just look at Zoe’s list; kids can die from it,
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