Pet Deaths Mount as Treats Continue to Be Sold

I am a firm believer in purchasing products and food made in the U.S.A. That includes food and treats for my pets.

A few years ago, you may remember hearing about dogs dying from melamine poisoning. This all stemmed from melamine being added to food and treats made in China. Deaths and illness continue to mount, now from treats being made in China sold here in the U.S.

When trying to choose a treat, make sure you look at the back of the bag. They may be distributed in the U.S., but made in China. Be clear about where they are made. Look for wholesome, good quality products such as a named meat, not by product.

In a statement released Monday by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), he criticized the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for failing to adequately protect domestic pets. “After a weeks-long investigative trip to China and thousands of reports of sick and dying dogs, the FDA still has no answers and offers pet owners no protection,” said Kucinich. Constituents reported illnesses in their pets after feeding them chicken jerky snacks, including ‘Waggin’ Train.’

Kucinich then wrote to the FDA demanding strong action and a briefing on their investigation. The FDA, which Kucinich claimed had known about problems with the snacks since 2008, issued a warning in November of 2011 about the instances of illnesses, but did not issue a recall, according to the press release. After Kucinich demanded stronger action, the FDA sent inspectors to plants in China to investigate the conditions in which the treats were manufactured. 

The FDA failed to reach a conclusion, releasing their raw data with little context, according to the release. 

“By allowing the treats to stay on the market as the years-long investigation drags on, the FDA is guaranteeing more pets will die. Why?” said Kucinich.

Dawn the Pet Nanny is on the web at www.dawnthepetnanny.org. Look for more updates on facebook.