Bradfordville Dog Park closed in 'abundance of caution' after report of 'flesh-eating mold'

Leon County officials are taking water samples and have placed warning signage at the Bradfordville Dog Park after a parkgoer reported her dog was injured by “flesh-eating mold.”

Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch alerted the public to the potential problem in a Facebook post in which he said he requested signs be placed to warn other dog owners.

In an interview, Welch said the county is taking water samples and the signs were intended to serve as a “better safe than sorry” measure until a more thorough determination had been made.

“It’s just an abundance of caution,” he said.

Hours later, the county notified residents that the park would be closed while analysis is conducted.

"We appreciate your patience as we work to quickly identify and address any potential issue," a Facebook post stated.

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Although it is not yet clear, the suspicion is the pythiosis infection was caused by the parasite pythium, a mold-like organism that can be found in mostly water. It causes gastrointestinal issues and can cause skin sores that refuse to heal.

The organisms can also infect humans.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 'Flesh-eating mold' reported at dog park in Leon County