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Lucy and her Mom Robyn!
This is Lucy with her young owner Robyn. Lucy was just 10 months old when she died on March 7, 2007 after eating tainted Nutro Ultra dog food. Robyn initially fed Lucy Solid Gold Just a Wee Bit, per her breeder’s recommendation, but recently switched to Nutro Ultra due to supply issues in her area. Unfortunately, Lucy’s food was one of the tainted foods produced by Menu Foods. Robyn spent $8000 in vet bills trying to heroically save Lucy then, after a brief recovery, Lucy died of cardiac arrest. Poor Lucy suffered a needless and painful death including being unable to eat or drink for nearly two weeks, enduring surgery, catheter placement including tying off her jugular, and eventually cardiac arrest induced by a blood clot resulting from the surgeries and illness. Lucy was diagnosed with kidney failure and necropsy tissue tests showed this was caused by a toxin. Robyn is heartbroken, angry and still waiting for an apology, or any type of communication, from Menu Foods. What’s most disturbing about Lucy’s death is that it could easily have been prevented if Menu Foods had responsibly disclosed the issues with the foods in a timely manner. Apparently, they knew there was a problem with the food dating back to December, 2006. If this is the case and the food had been recalled Lucy would never have eaten the food. Furthermore, if they’d have released the information even two weeks earlier Lucy would probably have been correctly diagnosed and with proper initial treatment may have survived. Robyn is outraged by Menu Foods lack of response – both in the initial release of information and in the complete and utter lack of follow-up with the victims. Robyn recently said "Innocent animals have suffered from food that is supposed to be good for them, something they are selling as the best." Robyn “believed Nutro Ultra was a premium quality dog food and one of the best things (she) could feed her dog.” As a result, Robyn now feels she can’t trust any dog food manufacturer and is literally afraid to feed a commercial diet again. She’s been researching home cooked diets and will most likely go that route in the future foregoing any type of mass produced product whatsoever. A Memorial fund has been established for donations to help Robyn with the veterinary bills that she incurred while trying to save Lucy. Donations can be made via PayPal to the treasurer@atftc.com Or can be mailed to: K. Maldon, ATFTC Treasurer, 1270 Fields Chapel Rd, Canton, GA 30114 make checks payable to ATFTC with a memo of Lucy Memorial Fund.
CNN.com Mass recall of dog and cat food after pets die POSTED: 9:12 p.m. EDT, March 18, 2007
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pet owners were worried Saturday that the pet food in their cupboards could be deadly after millions of containers of dog and cat food sold at major retailers across North America were recalled. Menu Foods -- a major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands -- recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths. An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said in announcing the North American recall. This press release was revised on March 21, 2007 to include changes in the second paragraph. It was revised again on March 24, 2007 to include changes in the fourth paragraph. FDA News
Recall of Pet Foods Manufactured by Menu Foods, Inc.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been informed that Menu Foods, Inc., a private-label pet food manufacturer based in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada, is recalling all its "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food produced at its facility in Emporia, Kansas between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The products are sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The recall was prompted by consumer complaints received by the manufacturer and by tasting trials conducted by the manufacturer. There has been a small number of reported instances of cats and dogs in the United States that developed kidney failure after eating the affected product. To date, Menu Foods, Inc. has reported 14 animal deaths to the FDA. Nine cats died during routine taste trials conducted by the company. Consumers reported deaths of four cats and one dog. The firm has undertaken extensive testing of the pet food products in question, but to date has been unable to find the source of the problem. The products are packaged in cans and pouches under numerous brand names and are marketed nationwide by many pet food retailers including Ahold USA Inc., Kroger Company, Safeway, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., PetSmart, Inc., and Pet Valu, Inc. Menu Foods, Inc. has identified the potentially contaminated products on the Internet at www.menufoods.com/recall. The product listing was expanded and updated as of March 23, and consumers who have any of these products should immediately stop feeding them to their pets. Dogs or cats who have consumed the suspect feed and show signs of kidney failure (such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting) should consult with their veterinarian. Menu Foods, Inc. is notifying retailers by telephone and mail and is arranging for the return of all recalled products.
Your donations are greatly appreciated! 100% of all money collected will go directly to Robyn. |
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