As Bella, a three-year-old pooch from Australia, munched away on
scraps given to her by her owner, rugby league star Jackson
Crews, she did not notice that an unwelcomed visitor had climbed
onto her food. Crews did notice, but it was too late. Bella had
eaten the visitor and had swallowed it whole. The visitor was a
toxic Cane toad that is well known in Australia as being highly
poisonous and having the ability to kill an animal within 20
minutes. When under stress or being attacked, the Cane toad
releases deadly toxins which can easily kill a large dog. The
Cane toad was imported from Hawaii to combat the Cane beetle,
but was unsuccessful. The toads also breed like flies and since
they have no natural predators because of their toxicity, their
numbers have greatly increased. They are considered one of
Australia's worst environmental disasters. Bella's owner rushed
her to the emergency vet where she was immediately given an
injection to make her vomit. Although her dinner came up, the
toad did not. Bella was