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 8:18 pm
Ruth Lowry 20175
Thank you for this petition. It would kill me if one of my dogs were effected by this contamination.
March 26th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Joyce Brown 07094
This is mass murder and all responsible parties must be held accountable. Accountable for not only veterinarian bills, but for the unspeakable pain and grieving that all pet parents and companions are feeling at the loss of their treasured, precious family members. The manufacturer, Menu, and all the brand marketers can no longer be trusted. Perhaps, they never should have been.
March 26th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
23454 Carolyn Sturgill
March 26th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
melody williams 27358
March 26th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
45150 Ed Murphy
March 26th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Phillip Tsai 60107
March 26th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
33435 Emily McKie
March 26th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
35578 Jan Hoadley
I did not lose pets to this, thankfully, but it has brought up additional research into what exactly is in pet foods. It’s apalling when compared to the marketing. The waiting to report known problems should not happen. I do feel like the tumor that led to having to put my dog to sleep was due to commercial foods after seeing what passes for definitions on the list.
Poison is a terrible way to lose a pet. Anyone in a position of trust - as pet food companies are - should be as concerned or more so with safety as profit. I wouldn’t take a truckload of Menu Foods produced food right now if it was delivered free. Between that and the insensitive email left at a local SaveALot I will no longer support that store either.
March 26th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
33618
Cindy Bell
March 26th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
name is Amanda Zook and my zip is 97007.
My dog died after consuming tainted food (I only have one poch as proof and IAMS wanted me to mail that to them, my ass) the rest I used to torture and kill my best friend. I am livid at learning they (menu foods)had the information on Feb. 20th and proceeded to kill ten healthy animals for testing purposes…all that time I am cramming poision into my dog. She was drinking lots of water and had become extremly lethargic with bouts of diariah. Had I known of the recall and the side effects she probably would be here today. I would love to be involved in a class action.
March 26th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
95640 Stevan Moren
March 26th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
85050
Misty Manes
March 26th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
K2K 1L5
Anne Millar
My 11 year old dog is dead. I want an APOLOGY. This is a nightmare for me..not only did I have to put him out of his suffering…now I find out what I purchased for him as a TREAT…was the cause. My tears are turning to bitter anger. I want a goddam apology from SOMEONE.
March 26th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
37055
I have been so upset over this,I have friends who have lost pets to several of the Company’s foods thats been Listed, These Company’s have not made One Open Apology ,and say we didnt know, some have Evan had reps in stores to walk up to them and tell them how good there foods are.If There foods were so good than these peoples pets would be alive today…..
March 26th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
This is a damn disgrace !!! We want answers …. NOW !
March 26th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
WE WANT ANSWERS …
March 26th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Nicole Craddock
14850
My cat Maple was affected by this terrible disaster. She spent five days in the hospital and thankfully is home now. When I spoke with IAMS about reimbursing me for her vet bills, they said “I cannot speak to this but I can say that IAMS is a company with integrity.” We will hope.
March 26th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
My heart goes out to anyone who has lost their pets to this horrible incident. They are family members and I hope this doesn’t happen again.
Peggy
March 26th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
06795 Tammy Blazys
March 26th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Bobbi Broughton, 47403
March 26th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
75219 Eleanor Garrett
March 26th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Mary Dabney 92506
My dog died on 3/15/07 of acute renal failure after eating IAMS cuts and gravy in a pouch.
March 26th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
During the first week of February my cat ate 4 cans of pet pride. During the second week she fell very ill. I took her to the vet where she was diagnosed with crf and hospitalized for four days. Her numbers did not improve with treatment and in fact worsened. I took her home as there was nothing else I could do and during the night sat with her as she cried
out in pain. The following morning (February 28) I made the hardest decision I have ever had to make to give my baby the last gift I could and let her go. I believe it was what she wanted as she was in so much pain. I cried and held onto her the whole way to the vet knowing this was our goodbye and she seemed to understand. I held her in my arms as they adminastered the injection and as she passed from this world. My baby was 16. I found her as a kittenwhen I was taking the garbage to the dumpster, I was 12 and she had been with me ever since. I miss her. I know things happen and sometimes they are not preventable, but am upset in the way things were handled. They knew animals were dying but didn’t care. The more expesive brands like iams biggest concern was that people know that their catfood is superior to the cheaper brands and a “secret recipe”. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths big corporations are willing to go to line their pockets and they should be held accoutable. Maybe it will take a multi-million dollar lawsuit to make them establish and maintain policies and practices to protect our animals.
March 26th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
During the first week of February my cat ate 4 cans of pet pride. During the second week she fell very ill. I took her to the vet where she was diagnosed with crf and hospitalized for four days. Her numbers did not improve with treatment and in fact worsened. I took her home as there was nothing else I could do and during the night sat with her as she cried
out in pain. The following morning (February 28) I made the hardest decision I have ever had to make to give my baby the last gift I could and let her go. I believe it was what she wanted as she was in so much pain. I cried and held onto her the whole way to the vet knowing this was our goodbye and she seemed to understand. I held her in my arms as they adminastered the injection and as she passed from this world. My baby was 16. I found her as a kitten when I was taking the garbage to the dumpster, I was 12 and she had been with me ever since. I miss her. I know things happen and sometimes they are not preventable, but am upset in the way things were handled. They knew animals were dying but didn’t care. The more expesive brands like iams biggest concern was that people know that their catfood is superior to the cheaper brands and a “secret recipe”. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths big corporations are willing to go to line their pockets and they should be held accoutable. Maybe it will take a multi-million dollar lawsuit to make them establish and maintain policies and practices to protect our animals.
March 26th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
19540
Lori Tollison
March 27th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Donna Griesmeyer 12106
March 27th, 2007 at 12:39 am
44039 Sharon Woolard
March 27th, 2007 at 12:41 am
Stacy Bartlett
Edison, NJ
08817
My sincerest regards to those families who have lost a loved one dut to the recent castrophe. Keep fighting we will back you 110%.
Animals have feelings to.
March 27th, 2007 at 12:43 am
34134
Judith Quandt
March 27th, 2007 at 12:44 am
Virginia & Art Barkley 15037
Will sign this petition and any other one that holds them accountable, will also vote for anyone who helps our beloved pets
March 27th, 2007 at 12:49 am
99218
Elysia Spencer
March 27th, 2007 at 1:11 am
98087 Joan Steik
I am so sorry for all that have lost their pets.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:19 am
maxine dacosta,95658 — I have two austrialian shepards, they are my buddies and cattle working “boys”. We have our rest and play time; and our work time. These guys are worth their weight in gold!I agree with the petition. It seems to me that no one has the “guts” to take the blame for the contaminated animal food. Dog/cat food should be made so that it can be consumed by humans without any ill affect. maxine daCosta and “boys”.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:39 am
98087 Neal Steik
March 27th, 2007 at 1:46 am
55069 Sandy Krimm
March 27th, 2007 at 1:46 am
Larry Fore 34107
March 27th, 2007 at 1:50 am
Susan A. Craddock
98004
March 27th, 2007 at 1:50 am
Susan A. Craddock
suecraddock1@aol.com
98004
March 27th, 2007 at 2:10 am
98248
Kathy Hanes
March 27th, 2007 at 3:28 am
75023 Kaira Sarkah
March 27th, 2007 at 3:29 am
98239 meg hilkey
March 27th, 2007 at 3:30 am
98239 meg hilkey
Please make the companies responsible for the pain and suffering pay for what they have done.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:40 am
49534 Cathi Catlett
March 27th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
richelle shaffer 73042
March 27th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
73042 richelle shaffer
March 27th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
s7h1e1 janelle jopling
March 27th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
61052
Laura Nielsen
My puppy Max has been eating Nutro pouched puppy food because it was better for him and now I am worried that he will get sick. I dislike the animal testing and feel for every one that has lost a pet as vet bills are expensive - the company should at least pay for the testing of the animals.
March 27th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I’m a pet lover. This is awful! We should line them up and make them eat the food first.
March 27th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
I’m a pet lover. This is awful!
March 27th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
98030 Danielle Mottley