Dog Sticks Tongue in Paper Shredder

from The Sun News (Socastee, SC)

Sandy Clarke's boxer Cross lost "three or four chunks" of his tongue in late February when he stuck it into a shredder in her home office.

"The dog was screaming," said Clarke, who ran out and yelled for her husband after Cross became entangled. "I woke my daughter up screaming. It was very traumatic."

The incident lasted 10 to 15 minutes, with Cross finally being freed once the shredder was put in reverse instead of trying to pull him out.

"I didn't want more damage done," Clarke said.

The number of shredder accidents - usually involving small children - has caught the attention of national advocates who are now working to make safety standards better.