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 26th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
01904
Kelly Stallings
My cat who previously had normal bloodwork at the end of Nov. 2006, now has kidney failure after being fed the recalled canned cat food. He needs subq fluids every other day. I spent the last 3 months working with his vet trying to figure out why he was so sick, putting him through numerous tests and watching him suffer. This has been very devastating for us. I am sickened by the fact that I fed him this food and have shortened his life because of it. He is like a child to me. I can’t bear the thought of losing him…I am truly heartbroken.
March 26th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
92867 Christine Steinegger
I had two cats, unfortunately I had to put my baby down on March 8th due to severe Kidney failure. The second one is still alive and is being hospitalized today since there might be hope for him as he wasn’t eating as much of the recalled food as my baby boy. The Bill just for the blood test and to put him down ran $ 193 and now we’re looking at another $ 600! The Petfood company needs to pay for all the damage they have done! We trusted them many years and fed our pets with their food… and now this!!!
March 26th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
92867 Nicole Steinegger
March 26th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
92626 Dennis Lightner
March 26th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Our cat has the kidney failure. We are hoping he will make it. He went from 15 pounds to 9 pounds in 2 weeks. My heart goes out to all those who lost thier beloved family members. I say family member because Booger bear isn’t our pet he is a member of our family. menu foods should pay for thier actions or should I say lack of actions. No amount of money will help pain and burden we have been through. But it wll get them where it hurts, in thier pocketbooks.
March 26th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Linda Gossar (Lopez)
54143
My cat Windor died feb 7 2007. the vet said he had kidney failure and there was nothing we could do to save him, he died two days later, in my arms, i dont believe in euthenasia, but suffered longer.
i have other cats, he was the youngest so probably ate more. i divide a can of Special Kitty, the purple or pink labels, between the cats. I also usd to buy Special Kitty dry food.
i called walmart, and they say they have not pulled them off the shelves, only the gourmet in the packets, which mine would get one divided every few months as a special treat. none have had the packets in quite awhile, as i am ill and the list i make for my children is already long.
my cats are in trauma, their feeding routine is changed, and cats dont like changes.
They had been throwing up now and then, for awhile.
I love them as much as i love my children, they are my children at home, as now my human children are adults.
i dont want other’s to suffer the loss of their babies, and it is such a mess, i dont know what kind of food to trust. so i am making homemade foods from tuna and rice, and boiling chicken. but they are none of them eating well.
this is savage, this is an outrage. these are living creatures, who love me and help me, as i am on liver transplant list and have some hard days. they make sure i eat, they make sure i dont fall, leading me through the house day and night.
but if they did nothing, they are helpless creatures in my care, and i am so confused.
I am sorry for other’s who have had to watch their beloved pet die or be sick.
sorry this is so long, but most of all, i want all the tainted food taken off the shelves immediately.
Linda
March 26th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
32303 - No amount of money can alleviate the amount of emotionl pain and suffering that loosing a pet causes, but please make these companies accountable for the financial burden they have put pet owners through.
March 26th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
94118
Carl Sato
March 26th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
07753 Mieke Closs
March 26th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
12550 Reha Demirer
March 26th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
81601
Joan Preisner
March 26th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Lori Connerly
30228
March 26th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
42171
ann stephens
March 26th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
75104
Rochelle Hudson
March 26th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
42171
ann stephens
March 26th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Martha Terrell
(71901)
March 26th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
06477 Bill Weaver
do not suoopport first proposition, do support 2 & 3
March 26th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
11772 Katya Khellblau
March 26th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
11222 Caryn Rose
March 26th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
07717
Bettyanne Vitale
March 26th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Kathy H, 98148 The goverment needs to do more in protecting are food, a few months ago it was spinich, and green onions. Last summer it was strawberries. Know it is pet food. What does the inspectors of the FDA do every day. Set in some back rooms and set on there duffs. We need to do more to make sure food is safe for humans and amimals alike.
March 26th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
29869
Chyerl Caldwell
March 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Kathy H. 98148 The goverment needs to do more in protecting are food, a few months ago it was spinich, and green onions. Last summer it was strawberries. Know it is pet food. What does the inspectors of the FDA do every day. Set in some back rooms and set on there duffs. We need to do more to make sure food is safe for humans and amimals alike.
March 26th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
92663
M. Pappas
There should be a way for consumers to trace all pet food ingredients from arrival at processing plant back to the ultimate point of creation. I wanted to know what the USDA inspection reports were like on the farms that grow the beef or chicken in my ‘human grade’ meat pet food. Pet food companies will not and do not give out this information. Perhaps if they were obligated to do so they would hold to higher standards! I would gladly pay more for my pets’ food if I could assure myself a complete level of confidence in my pet food manufacturer.
March 26th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
08817 STEPHANIE LANGAN
March 26th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
19136, Marianne Love
March 26th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
95695, Karen Blakeman
We must be able to rely on the safety of our food supply for animals as well as humans! This is outrageous! Changes must be made at once & those responsible must be held accountable!
March 26th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Shannon Taylor, 13036
They should absolutely be held accountable, the pain and suffering they cause so many families. If people are like me, there animals are part of the family in every way!!
March 26th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
97232 Lisa Norwood
March 26th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Rocsana Saddigh, 91367
I have a mini schnauzer in the hospital with accute renal failure because he ate Menu Foods, Iams Select Bites. His vet bills are hefty and there is a huge emotional strain on my family because Charlie is such an important part of our lives. I agree with every part of this petition.
March 26th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Elizabeth Nichols 75206
March 26th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Carol Austin 28539
I have a cat who is suffering from the effects of the foods (he has had 4 different brands). He is almost 18 years old and is having a difficult time fighting. He has always been a healthy cat until this happened. I treat him at home and take him in for weekly rechecks, by bill is climbing! I work for a vet, but it doesn’t make it any cheaper, it just makes it easier for me to take him in. We have accumulated several hundred dollars in vet bills over the last 2 months. I hope something changes in the pet food industry, my pets are like my kids and I know a lot of people who feel the same way!
March 26th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Leslie Murphy
45236
March 26th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Suzanne Masheeco
92116
March 26th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Kim Kimmey
77008
March 26th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Rosemarie A. Romano
06405
March 26th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Carol Nance 90814
March 26th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
02124
Pat Baughman
March 26th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
80203
Elizabeth Shuman
March 26th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Diane Maxwell 08824
March 26th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
37745
Glenda Leydig
However this tainting of the pet food occurred, the manufacture should be held responsible. Hopefully, this will mean tighter regulations in the pet food industry.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Krista Carwardine
01832
March 26th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Jack and Em Anderson
85743
March 26th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
72701
Rachel Squires
March 26th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Kimberly Woods
40272
My vet has confirmed that cat food flavored with rat poison murdered my family’s 7 month old cat/kitten, Pandora, and we are actively searching for legal representation. Anyone with any suggestions, please e-mail us at wwriter2b@aol.com. Thanks!
March 26th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Kristi Buchanan 78245
Pet: Molly dog, Boston Terrier 2 1/2 years young died after eating Ol’ Roy Fillet Mignon wet food.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
30291 DENISE RHODES
March 26th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
My beloved cat Tigger died from eating menu foods pet pride food. My living cat, T.T. has been hospitalized and is trying to pull through this liver and kidney failure. This company should and will be held accountable.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Hollie Shepard 91607
March 26th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Lasandra Walter
37148
Scott Fralick @ CBS news in Nashville wants to talk with anyone that has had a dog or cat die from eating tainted food I sent an email blasting CBS for not reporting more factually and he wants to do some interviews. Great! About time….PLEASE contact him if you live near Nashville and have lost a pet. The word needs to get out.