Petition to Require Pet Food Companies to be Held Accountable for Damages
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED:
Request that the U.S. Congress enact legislation to require pet food manufacturers and the companies that market those pet food brands to be held financially liable for any medical costs related to or contributing to the illness and/or death of a pet that can be reasonably attributed to the food consumed by the pet. And that all pet foods include the name of the manufacturer, not just the brand under which it is sold.
This petition is in response to the thousands of pet parents and owners who have suffered under the Menu Foods recall and their slow response that started on March 16th, 2007.
Sign after the jump.
Or read about all the latest news surrounding the recall.
In creating this petition, our motive is three-fold:
- First, we want to ease the pain and suffering of those who have lost their pets due to mistakes and negligence of pet food makers. The loss or illness of a pet can be emotionally devastating. On top of it, the financial burden of uninsured veterinary treatment can be a double-whammy, leading pet parents and their families to significant financial damage — often affecting other family members such as kids and the elderly. This legislation will create a venue for settling these cases fairly and out of court, eliminating the need for a lengthy court case, which companies rely on in order to reduce the likelihood of payout.
- Second, create a financial motive for pet food makers and marketers to set higher standards for pet food. We want to let them know that consumers are interested in higher-grade pet food. And that the longer a company waits in issuing warnings or recalls related to their product, the larger the potential financial damage. This new law would hold the manufacturers (often smaller, less financially sound organizations) and also the larger corporations that market the branded foods — who ultimately control what goes in them.
- Third, a clear public disclosure of who actually makes the food. Since the financial liability falls to the brand as well as the manufacturer, the name of the company that actually produced the food should be obvious to the consumer. How much clearer would this recall have been if the food was labeled “Made by Menu Foods”?
Once the final tally of the pet deaths is complete, the petition will be delivered to the head of the congressional committee that controls FDA funding (Dave Obey, D-WI, chairman of House Appropriations Committee).
IMPORTANT!
For your petition to be valid, we require:
- An accurate email address
- Your First and Last name (In the comment field)
- Your Zip code (In the comment field)
Your email will not appear below and will be kept securely by us. Your email will be used ONLY in the purposes of carrying out the petition. It will not be used for spam, sold or marketed to any other company. We hate spam as much as you do. Only your name, Zip code, and any comment you make will appear.
This petition is sponsored by itchmo.com. Please feel free to start your own email campaign to this page. The short link to use is http://www.itchmo.com/petition
March 25th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Jeanne Cauthron 74964
March 25th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
85028
Susan F. Heywood
85028
Michael Markiewicz
March 25th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
93003 norma tabatabai We have to stop the abuse of innocent animals that are being used in lab testing! I was appalled to discover these companies deliberately fed these poor, defenseless animals this contaminated food just to see which ones would die. Plus, their acts of torture doesn’t end there, there’s so much more that we are not even aware of! How can companies who market their product by telling the consumer how much they care about your pets do something like this? I will make sure i never again buy from a pet food company that treats animals with cruely!!!!
March 25th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Larry, Jenny, & Brianna Lyons, 25801
It was terrible as to what loss our family endured at the death of our pet cat, any & all companys should be fully responsible for these deaths & the suffering we seen our cat go through it was TERRIBLE
March 25th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
94014
Linda Yacobucci
March 25th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
76013
Kristin Kimmell
March 25th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
I bought Nutro Ultra Adult and Senior (for a 6 yr. old bischon and a 14 yr. old papllion). Luckily I fed commercial food as a supplement. However now that i have found out what a bunch of charlatans the dog food manufacturers are i will no longer purchase commercial pet food in any way shape or form, i thought i was buying the best for my dogs…
please do not tell me that i will be neglecting my dogs…this is the first time I have purchased commercial dog food and have had dogs live comfortable healthy lives to 20 & 22 yrs. and never had to worry that i was poisoning them…
March 25th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
33180
March 25th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I am outraged at Menu Foods. They knew there was a problem at least by 2/20/07 but didn’t announce this to the public until 3/16/07. I have a cat that has renal failure that started to show symptoms on 2/15/07. The public should have been notified about this problem when it was first reported to Menu foods. NOT after Menu Foods killed more animals doing their own testing first.
I feed feral cats and there will be no way we can know if they are missing because they have died from natural causes or were poisoned by the recalled foods. I AM OUTRATED! WHO WILL BE ADDRESSING THIS FERAL CAT ISSUE?
I WILL NEVER AGAIN PURCHASE ANY OF THE FOODS THAT ARE ON THE DOG AND CAT RECALL LISTS = NEVER AGAIN. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FOOD MADE BY MENU FOODS.
L-Danyielle Yacobucci
94014
March 25th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
12065 SUSAN HUGHES HUGHESEY12@AOL.COM
March 25th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Michele Peltier of 55119 US
My dog Jack, was a healthy loving little guy. I thought it would make him happy to have a variety of canned food, so, I went and bought several brands of gravy/meat canned foods. (Gosh I get teary typing this). Suddenly 3/16/07 6pm he began vomiting and pooping all over. I watched him till about 4:30am, he just went down hill quickly and he had been so uncomfortable and crying in pain … I called an ER Vet and took him in. NOW my dog had a liver huge and was beyond weak. Lots of xrays and labs were done. I was exhausted….he was exhausted, we guessed at what was going on with him. There was no option but to put him to sleep. Many have kidney issues but I have read others with sudden liver problem..who is to say what caused it. My research says toxins. Poison will make one toxic.
Till I fed him these foods, he was fine. You call it. I am buying no canned foods for my 3 cats. I cook for them now. I want some justice for all of us who love our animals.
March 25th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Alphonse Deadman 55303
March 25th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I have a Pug who is like my child. By the Grace of God I did not feed her any of the substandard food being recalled. However, I had been feeding her what has been touted as a “premium” dog food. I have now switched to a hollistic, human grade dog food manufactured by a company that makes ONLY pet food, and I will NEVER, EVER AGAIN purchase another bag of that so called “premium” dog food, which I now know to be like letting my dog eat from a trash can. Maybe worse. After finding out that they continued to kill innocent animals by continuing to feed that garbage to them, I will also be boycotting alot of their other products. They knew for at least a month that this was happening and said nothing. They are the worst kind of greed mongers, preying on helpless, innocent animals and the people who love them all in the name of the Almighty Dollar.
March 25th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
55303
Alphonse Deadman
March 25th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Sandie Levine
West Chester, PA 19382
March 25th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Briana Dennehey
80305
March 25th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Tammy Shipman 28716
March 25th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Suzanne Dunn 80525
A petition to change the FDA policy of permitting ‘Diversion of Unfit Food to Animal Use (http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Policy_Procedures/3650.pdf) is needed to strengthen protection for pets from this practice of diverting unsafe and unfit food to animals. The FDA leaves pets unprotected because pesticide contamination in excess of the permitted tolerance or action level and where the pesticide involved is unapproved for uses on a food or feed commodity is a criteria used for their FDA Diversion Request to animals. The FDA diverts food unfit for human use to be used for feeding animals. The FDA responds after they receive complaints but there is the possibility of unsafe and unfit raw materials being widely distributed for human use, making it a potential security threat. The FDA is checking for that now. Unsafe and unfit food is not fit for consumption.
The pet food standards described at FDA Sec. 690-300 Canned Pet Food (CPG 7126.18) are unacceptable and those commodities used may violate standards before processing, some occuring from packing house offal or the tissues of animals that may have died otherwise than by slaughter and diseased animals. This info is found at http://www.fda.gov/ora/complia.....0-300.html .
March 25th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
T0H-3N0
4 Legged Lover
March 25th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
84405 Sloane Harris
My cat Vanity is a victim of Menu Foods. She is surviving day to day on home IV therapy. My heart goes out to all who are suffering. I hold Menu Foods RESPONSIBLE.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Lori Tilley 27009
My cat Fester went into the hospital on Tuesday, March 20th, and had to be uthenizied on Friday, March 23. They treated him with antibiotics and IV fluids to no avail. His enzyme levels were 141, normal range 30. He also had ulcers in his mouth from vomiting. I had his blood tested for the third time with the same grim results before I made the decision to put him down. The vet informed me that there was little chance , 20% possibly, that his kidneys could ever recover. I fed him the Special Kitty brand food three times a day for a year. So much thinking you are spoiling your pets with the food they enjoy so much. I am heartbroken that this company did not inform consumers quicker than they did. So many of our beloved pets could have been saved. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that is going through the loss of their pet or still visiting their vet’s office everyday as I did.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Sara Bass, 65301
March 25th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
28212 Jen Kobe
March 25th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Steven Harris, 84405
We have a well documented case of our cat’s (Vanity) kidney function being normal prior to a dental exam. With fewer teeth, she needed soft food because she couldn’t chew the hard food. March 6, ‘07, our cat was diagnosed with a heart murmur (related to poisoning) and renal failure. Her condition is grave, prognosis is poor. We have the store receipts where we bought Special Kitty (Wal Mart) food.
This hasn’t affected only the ill cat, but EVERY member of my family. We are heartbroken, as we don’t know if our cat will survive and we are taking drastic measures to save her. We are planning to sue Menu Foods, but no amount of money can replace a loved one. The vet bills have bankrupted my family but we can’t stop treatment because the money ran out.
Hugs and prayers to everyone suffering through this.
A local story on our cat…
http://www.freewebs.com/felinefoundationofutah/
FOX 13 News reported on our cat…
http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox.....geId=1.1.1
March 25th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Derek Adler 08817
It sickens me with what has happened. My 5 cats were eating recalled food, and will be getting blood-work this week. Good luck with the petition.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
I too am sad that Menu Foods still continues with this game of 1 dead dog. I wonder if they are talking about my dead dog? Hey everyone, do you think maybe they mean my dead dog????
COWARDS… MENU FOODS SHOULD COUGH UP SOME OF THEIR MILLION DOLLAR PROFIT TOMORROW TO HELP SOME PEOPLE OUT.
Again, Sadly, I have the ONLY DEAD DOG IN THE COUNTRY.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Marcia Cooper
89434
March 25th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
43055
Susan Barnett
March 25th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
21014
Dolores Martin
March 25th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Genny McNabb 78404
March 25th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
06437 Monique Prendergast
Menu Foods, and the companies that associate with them, are guilty of being greedy, sadistic mass murderers. How dare they victimize the innocent in the name of $??? I can’t wait to see them all go belly up and rot in hell.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
33606 Elise Jarmon
I’m totally disgusted with what has been revealed since the recall was finally announced. My 3 1/2 year old cat (Jasmine) became violently ill about ten days ago and I hadn’t heard any news about the recall at that point. When I realized that Jasmine was drinking a lot of water I found the recall list on a website and sure enough, the variety pack of Iams I had was contaminated. I was so upset because I had no way of knowing how long I had been feeding my cat poison and I felt that I had failed her somehow.
I took Jasmine to the vet and after spending $400 I found out that she has damage to her kidneys, the exact extent is unknown. I am one of the luckier owners - Jasmine seems to be doing pretty well now although she has not liked any of the vet-prescribed diet I have since had to put her on.
I feel very sad thinking about how many pet owners have had to watch their pets suffer or die and I am furious at the companies responsible for this mess.
I understand that the owners are supposed to be reimbursed for all of the veterinary costs but does anyone have any idea how that’s supposed to happen?
March 25th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Cathy Young 22101
March 25th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Barbara Hill 28401
March 25th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
3153
Alison Woolley
March 25th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Debra Gillett 85318
March 25th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
These manufacturers need not only to be responsible financially but also morally. They should be fined/prosecuted for animal abuse for permitting additional animals to die in their tests when they could have used chemical analysis.
March 25th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
78602
Jen Hoeflein
March 25th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
78602 Carolyn Hoeflein
March 25th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
46140 susan simpson
March 25th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
78602 Carolyn Hoeflein
The suffering our cat endured cannot be expressed adequately in words.
By the time we got him to the Vet, we could do nothing more than to end his suffering. And he did suffer .
This must never happen again.
March 25th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
01569 Lisa Wiersma
March 25th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
J Tygrest
March 25th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
J Tygrest 32205
March 25th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
J Tygrest 32205
March 25th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Ron and Kathy Davis
92604
March 25th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Lisa Knight
92071
Yeah, if it were people you bet your bottom they would be all over this.
Since its pets who cant talk with a voice, its important we all make ours
heard for them. So to you regulator, woof woof from my dog who ate the
tainted food. Translation “Be accountable for your screw ups”.
March 25th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Time for the pet food industry to be as accountable as the folks that handle food for human consumption.
Look what happened with Mad Cow. I heard its from cattle being fed ground up sheep with a disease that crossed to cattle through their feed. Scrappy I believe is what it was the disease was called. Why feed anything animal diseased or tainted food anyhow? Like who that that was a great idea in the first place?
March 25th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Oh, zip code should be 98258
March 25th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Suzanne Pierce 43204
Just two weeks ago, on March 11, I lost my loyal faithful buddy of 17 years to this unimaginable poisoning. He dedicated his entire life “taking care of me” and in no way deserved this horrific death.