Dog owners warned common playtime activity could be fatal as TV star's pet dies

By Alan Johnson, Social News Reporter

Jasmine Harman's dog sadly passed away two years ago (file) (Image: Getty)

A Place In The Sun star Jasmine Harman has issued a stark warning to dog owners following the tragic death of her pet, Jet.

The Channel 4 presenter used TikTok to share her heartbreaking story on what would have been Jet's birthday. "Some of you may remember he died just over two years ago when he was out for a walk with a friend and he choked on a ball," Jasmine emotionally recalled.

She then highlighted the dangers of allowing dogs to play with balls, stating: "Lots of dogs love playing with a ball – Jet certainly did. He played with a ball every day until the day he died."

Instead, Jasmine urged pet owners to use an "anti-choking ball" which has holes in it, or a ball that's "much too big to swallow". She advised: "For example, if you have a labrador-sized dog, a tennis ball is too small. Use another type of toy or a ball with a rope attached."

She concluded by stressing the importance of understanding dog first aid, saying: "Lastly, make sure you have an understanding of dog first aid if you're out walking – there's lots of video tutorials out there. I hope I can prevent someone else's dog going through what our poor Jet went through."

Jasmine's clip clearly struck a chord with her followers, triggering an outcry of sympathy and gratitude. One fan replied: "This is absolutely heart-breaking. Thank you for doing these videos to educate others."

Another wrote to express their newfound awareness: "Love my boy. He has big oversized ball, he loves it, never thought this could happen, thanks for posting this to educate." A third joined in appreciation, saying: "So sorry to hear about your loss, Jet looked like a gorgeous boy. Thank you for the suggestion of dog first aid. Oddly it's never come to mind but searching for videos now."

Meanwhile, a fourth follower shared their own painful experience with a poignant comment: "I know how you are feeling. A long time ago my Springer choked on the last throw of the day, his name was Digger. And what a terrible trauma we have had to live with. Your warnings are great."

Jasmine ended her post with a heartfelt tribute: "Happy heavenly birthday to our darling boy Jet, who would have been 5 today. Mummy loves you and we still miss you every day. Nothing can bring our beautiful boy back, but maybe our loss can help save another dog. Please be aware that a ball can choke and kill your dog."

My Pet Says, meanwhile, has issued a second warning regarding tennis balls in partcular, when it comes to your dog. "While tennis balls are commonly used as dog toys, they’re not necessarily the safest option for your pooch," it states on its website. "It’s crucial to remember that tennis balls were not originally designed with dogs in mind.

"They often contain chemicals and materials that may pose risks to your dog if ingested. One of the primary concerns is the presence of abrasive materials or coatings on tennis balls. These materials can cause irritation or injury to a dog’s mouth, throat or digestive tract if chewed or swallowed. Additionally, some tennis balls may contain toxic chemicals that could be harmful to dogs if ingested in large quantities."