03/28/2026
⚠️ URGENT WATER WARNING: NORTH & SOUTH WALTON & OKALOOSA COUNTIES ⚠️
I am writing this to warn my neighbors across all of North Walton, South Walton, and Okaloosa County—including every community surrounding the Choctawhatchee Bay.
Our 3-year-old pup, Stella, is currently fighting for her life with Acute Kidney Failure after swimming in the Bay last week (March 19/20). While many people only watch the Gulf beaches for Red Tide, the Bay and its surrounding shorelines are currently hiding a silent killer: Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria).
We didn't see a visible "scum" on the water, but the toxins were there. It started with a small limp and spiraled into a total medical crisis in just days. We are moving her to Auburn University Veterinary Hospital first thing tomorrow morning for specialist care. Auburn requires a 50% deposit upfront, and if advanced treatments like dialysis are needed, the costs will be very high.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL: With the recent spring rains and runoff, the waters surrounding the Choctawhatchee Bay and the surrounding land are extremely high-risk for toxic blooms right now. You can see the official state reports of active cautions in our region here: https://protectingfloridatogether.gov/water-quality-status-dashboard
We have already raised a significant amount of the money needed for the initial deposit thanks to this amazing community, but the total is changing by the minute as we prepare for the road ahead. I am posting the GoFundMe link in the first comment. Please share this to warn every pet owner in Walton and Okaloosa. We don't want anyone else to go through this.
