Comments on: Pet food recall: Nearly two years later, and the death toll still climbs http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/ The Web blog of the Pet Connection, a pet-care feature syndicated internationally by Universal Press. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:27:28 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Imissmypets http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-399467 Imissmypets Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:46:51 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-399467 So very sad to hear of your loss, I read so many posts on pet websites of more of the survivors losing the battle, I think maybe more have died in the last year than in the first few months. Seems it never ends. So very sad to hear of your loss, I read so many posts on pet websites of more of the survivors losing the battle, I think maybe more have died in the last year than in the first few months.
Seems it never ends.

]]> By: Sandi K http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-383864 Sandi K Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:51:54 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-383864 I want to thank Pet Connection for this very kind article regarding Carol's Smudgie as well as the other affected pets. For me, Smudge was a symbol of all the pets affected that fought to stay with us and their families. It was very hard to lose Smudge even though she didnt live in my house, she was still a symbol of those that managed to survive, that Menu and the PFC's werent able to totally destroy. We lost our kitty in March 2007, 5 days before the recalls began. Even though Smudge has passed, I realize even more if thats possible that we have to continue to fight for these animals for a simple thing (or what should be a simple thing) called safe pet food. I know that those who have moved on to the rainbow bridge will be right along beside us helping to fight. Godspeed dear Smudge. I want to thank Pet Connection for this very kind article regarding Carol’s Smudgie as well as the other affected pets. For me, Smudge was a symbol of all the pets affected that fought to stay with us and their families. It was very hard to lose Smudge even though she didnt live in my house, she was still a symbol of those that managed to survive, that Menu and the PFC’s werent able to totally destroy. We lost our kitty in March 2007, 5 days before the recalls began. Even though Smudge has passed, I realize even more if thats possible that we have to continue to fight for these animals for a simple thing (or what should be a simple thing) called safe pet food. I know that those who have moved on to the rainbow bridge will be right along beside us helping to fight. Godspeed dear Smudge.

]]> By: Karen Fraser http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-383343 Karen Fraser Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:01:38 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-383343 The ongoing suffering of pets and their guardians haunts me. As an entrepreneur I am fighting back with what I have- my business skills. Just after the first recall I helped to launch PETitionz.org. The comments of people from around the world came down to a discussion of a broken trust. With a friend,a personal chef, I have launched Trust Pet Cuisine a personal chef meal service for dogs and cats. We are not THE BEST we are the best we can be for today and researching constantly to be better tomorrow. We have caring clients but I am startled that so many people believe that the pet food problem was "fixed' last year. They still discuss what they feed their dog by giving me the cost of the bag. They can't remember the name let alone the contents listed on the label. For me action is better than despair and it works- most days. The ongoing suffering of pets and their guardians haunts me. As an entrepreneur I am fighting back with what I have- my business skills. Just after the first recall I helped to launch PETitionz.org. The comments of people from around the world came down to a discussion of a broken trust. With a friend,a personal chef, I have launched Trust Pet Cuisine a personal chef meal service for dogs and cats. We are not THE BEST we are the best we can be for today and researching constantly to be better tomorrow. We have caring clients but I am startled that so many people believe that the pet food problem was “fixed’ last year. They still discuss what they feed their dog by giving me the cost of the bag. They can’t remember the name let alone the contents listed on the label.
For me action is better than despair and it works- most days.

]]> By: 2CatMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-383234 2CatMom Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:48:14 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-383234 I'm hoping we will. After all, could it be much worse? So far it looks like Obama's picking people who at least know something about the areas they are heading and the don't appear to be industry shills. I’m hoping we will. After all, could it be much worse? So far it looks like Obama’s picking people who at least know something about the areas they are heading and the don’t appear to be industry shills.

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-383228 The OTHER Pat Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:21:56 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-383228 FDA head to resign when Obama takes office: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4BF47B20081216 I wonder if we can get someone in there who'll take this stuff more seriously? FDA head to resign when Obama takes office:
http://www.reuters.com/article.....7B20081216

I wonder if we can get someone in there who’ll take this stuff more seriously?

]]> By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-383148 Gina Spadafori Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:45:48 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-383148 Makes me wonder….you guys know I own a pet supply store; I see a hundred or so people a day and talk to them about their pets. Since the 2007 recalls, I’ve noticed a huge increase in cats with ongoing urinary/bladder/kidney issues and…(well, I kind of thought I was over-thinking it but…) I thought this was probably a result of just more awareness about the issues. But I know some of these cats had eaten recalled food but survived and now I wonder if maybe some are still sick? Comment by Joy — December 15, 2008 I wonder, too. I was hanging out at a friend's store over the weekend (busy, lots of customers) when TWO customers came in asking about a good food for cats with kidney problems. Mind you, they could well have been older cats with pre-recall existing illness. But still ... Makes me wonder….you guys know I own a pet supply store; I see a hundred or so people a day and talk to them about their pets. Since the 2007 recalls, I’ve noticed a huge increase in cats with ongoing urinary/bladder/kidney issues and…(well, I kind of thought I was over-thinking it but…) I thought this was probably a result of just more awareness about the issues. But I know some of these cats had eaten recalled food but survived and now I wonder if maybe some are still sick?

Comment by Joy — December 15, 2008

I wonder, too. I was hanging out at a friend’s store over the weekend (busy, lots of customers) when TWO customers came in asking about a good food for cats with kidney problems. Mind you, they could well have been older cats with pre-recall existing illness. But still …

]]> By: Alasandra http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-383077 Alasandra Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:53:48 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-383077 It's sad to think that our pets food is no safer today then it was in 2007, when our beloved Whiskers was poisoned by his catfood. It's also chilling to realize the human food supply including baby formula isn't safe either. It’s sad to think that our pets food is no safer today then it was in 2007, when our beloved Whiskers was poisoned by his catfood. It’s also chilling to realize the human food supply including baby formula isn’t safe either.

]]> By: Marcy http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-383030 Marcy Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:04:40 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-383030 My condolences on the loss of your sweet kitty. The "cold shoulder" that we have gotten from some of the pet food companies is completely unacceptable. They have turned their backs on us, their consumers, and the very animals that they pretend to care about. It happened to me last year, when I contacted them about my sick kitty, which I soon lost to the tainted pet food. They couldn't even give the courtesy to pretend that they cared. All they could do was to deny any responsibility. Well, what they succeeded in doing was to alienate me from buying their products ever again. My condolences on the loss of your sweet kitty.

The “cold shoulder” that we have gotten from some of the pet food companies is completely unacceptable. They have turned their backs on us, their consumers, and the very animals that they pretend to care about.

It happened to me last year, when I contacted them about my sick kitty, which I soon lost to the tainted pet food. They couldn’t even give the courtesy to pretend that they cared. All they could do was to deny any responsibility.

Well, what they succeeded in doing was to alienate me from buying their products ever again.

]]> By: Tyson's Mom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-382995 Tyson's Mom Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:28:29 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-382995 Carol- I'm so sorry to hear of Smudge's passing. I live in the area, and had been following reports about Smudge and Jessica online. (One of my boys was poisoned by the same product... I purchased a few pouches as a 'treat' two days before the recall.) I was so hopeful that she would pull through, especially after the loss of Jessica. According to my vet (we had this discussion last week when Tyson went in for yet another follow-up panel), as of yet, the other pets she's treating who recovered are still doing well.. though one cat (whose owners were unable to give fluids at home) was left with permanently elevated renal values. Still, it scares me. T's numbers have gone up slightly since last year (creatinine is still WNL, BUN is slightly elevated), and while it could be nothing, I do worry about the possibility of lasting subclinical damage that may rear its head as he ages. (He's only five.) Carol- I’m so sorry to hear of Smudge’s passing.

I live in the area, and had been following reports about Smudge and Jessica online. (One of my boys was poisoned by the same product… I purchased a few pouches as a ‘treat’ two days before the recall.) I was so hopeful that she would pull through, especially after the loss of Jessica.

According to my vet (we had this discussion last week when Tyson went in for yet another follow-up panel), as of yet, the other pets she’s treating who recovered are still doing well.. though one cat (whose owners were unable to give fluids at home) was left with permanently elevated renal values. Still, it scares me. T’s numbers have gone up slightly since last year (creatinine is still WNL, BUN is slightly elevated), and while it could be nothing, I do worry about the possibility of lasting subclinical damage that may rear its head as he ages. (He’s only five.)

]]> By: CarolO http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/12/15/pet-food-recall-nearly-two-years-later-and-the-death-toll-still-mounts/comment-page-1/#comment-382971 CarolO Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:30:00 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=4521#comment-382971 Carol, my deepest sympathy over your loss of Smudge. You were so right on with your "where else is this going to show up?" When will this nightmare end and how long is it going to take for the very agencies that we pay to protect the food supplies to awaken and do the right thing? No level of melamine is acceptable. This needless suffering that Smudge endured is not acceptable, either. We will all act together to be certain it was not in vain. Carol, my deepest sympathy over your loss of Smudge. You were so right on with your “where else is this going to show up?” When will this nightmare end and how long is it going to take for the very agencies that we pay to protect the food supplies to awaken and do the right thing? No level of melamine is acceptable. This needless suffering that Smudge endured is not acceptable, either. We will all act together to be certain it was not in vain.

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