Kimberly Fisher of Colchester said it took about 20 minutes to get what was left of the menu out of the dog's mouth. She said the terrier, named Cymbeline, is trained to fetch her mail without chewing on it.

Dr. Ben Bennett, the vet who took care of Cymbeline at the Colne Valley Veterinary Practice, said the menu, on coated paper, turned to papier mache in the terrier's mouth.

"He couldn't open his mouth," Bennett said. "He sat there very quietly while we picked away with a fine pick until we had removed enough of the cardboard to get a bit of movement."

Fisher is angry at the fast-food restaurant and others like it that drop fliers through her mail slot. She said they could at least use paper that does not cause "distress to animals."