BEWARE OF FOOD FROM CHINA

                                                       China Pet Treats 

                     BEWARE !            Linked to 900 

           READ LABELS!            Dog Deaths, Illnesses                                                          

Samson a 9-year old Fox Terrier died of kidney
failure in January.  His owners blame his death
on China Jerky Treats

Photos of dogs who allegedly died after
eating China Jerky Treats


The number of complaints has nearly doubled since the story was first reported by ABC News in March. The FDA says its investigation is ongoing and that it continues to test samples of the popular treats, which dog owners across the country say have caused kidney failure in their pets, resulting in severe illness or death.

Facebook pages and online petitions devoted to pulling Chinese jerky treats from the shelves have been getting reaction from dog owners around the country. One Facebook page is titled "Animal Parents Against Pet Treats and Food Made in China." Another, called "Victims of Treats Made in China," includes photos of dogs who allegedly died from eating the treats. (Facebook)

Some pet owners have blamed Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats, produced by Nestle Purina, for illnesses and deaths. A spokesperson for Nestle Purina said its products are held to the highest quality and safety standards and are safe to feed to pets. (ABC News)

Consumers have largely blamed two brands for the reported illnesses. Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch, both produced by Nestle Purina and made in China, are reportedly included in the samples being tested by the FDA. The agency told ABC News it has solicited samples of treats from the owners of the pets allegedly affected, but will not say whether it is tested those samples. To date, the FDA has not been able to determine a cause for the reported illnesses.
                              

Waggin' Train, a popular chicken jerky treat sold by Nestle Purina, is made in China. A surplus of white meat from chickens makes China a source of chicken jerky for U.S. pet food manufacturers.

The FDA issued its first warning about chicken jerky treats from China in 2007 and again in 2008, both times based on consumer complaints. But it wasn't until a third warning -- in late 2011 -- that the momentum of complaints accelerated as an angry population of pet owners demanded to know what in the Chinese treats might be sickening their dogs.


"It's hard to believe that we're still fighting the same battle," said Terry Safranek, whose 9-year old Fox Terrier named Sampson died of kidney failure in January.
"The last thing that he ate and then threw up was the chicken jerky," said Safranek. "It kills me that the treats I fed him killed him."
Safranek is a member of a Facebook group called "Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made In China," which has grown to 4,500 members and includes hundreds of photos of dogs whose owners claim were sickened or died from chicken jerky treats


"We're just the ones who are online. There literally could be tens of thousands of people whose dogs were affected," said Safranek.


The group also keeps its own spreadsheet of victims, ranging from a 1-year old, five-pound Chihuahua named Kiarra to a 111-pound German Shepherd named Floyd.
"The problem with the issue is getting the word out," said Dr. Richard Goldstein, Chief of Medicine at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. Goldstein has been studying the connection between pet illnesses and chicken jerky treats made in China since 2007 and says although deaths have been rare in his experience, it's still crucial to seek veterinary care if a dog shows symptoms such as vomiting or lethargy.


"These are still on the shelves and cases are still popping up," said Goldstein, urging pet owners to be vigilant.


The issue has gained attention in Washington, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D.-Ohio, who has been urging Congress to look closely at products coming from China, recently blasted the head of the FDA over the issue. At a Senate Appropriations hearing in April, Brown told Dr. Margaret Hamburg he was concerned that pet owners were still buying the treats, unaware they may possibly be tainted. "The FDA must be as aggressive as possible to find the source of this contamination," he said later in a press release.




                          

Dennis Adkins has filed a $5 million class action lawsuit against Nestle Purina, alleging that his 9-year-old Pomeranian Cleopatra died after eating Waggin Train chicken jerky dog treats.(Courtesy Dennis Adkins)