Maine Pets

As my stomach churns

The FDA released the 20 million chickens that they were holding back into the food chain.It was discovered that the chickens were fed food "enriched" with melamine, but be reassured, ( I am not!) we are all safe says the FDA.

We, the public, never did find out who fed the tainted feed, or what happened to the feed, or where the chickens are now.

Your freezer?
Mine?
A fast food drive through window that I "used" to take the kids through?

We don't even know if the chickens continue to eat the melamine laced food, or how the feed is being disposed of. There have been conflicting reports on which farms got the feed. Don't know about you, but I am buying my food from local organic farms from now on, and we are growing own vegetables as well.

Oh and by the way, these tainted chickens may even be making their way back to your pets food - if they haven't already!

As Pet Connection said over the weekend. "Tastes like Melamine".
Here is the scoop from Rueters.

The blog where Christie's head explodes

Christie Keith from Pet Connection has some pretty choice words to say about the FDA's assurance to all of use that ours and our pets food is "finally safe".

Click here to read Christie's excellent snark fest where her head explodes from all the FDA spin.

Thank you again Christie!

FDA puts a hold on 20 million chickens for possible contamination

Looks like I spoke wwwaaaayyy to soon when I wrote yesterday that I was done covering the pet food recall.
More recalls from Fosters and Smith, and get this, the FDA is holding 20 million more chickens believed to have eaten melamine feed.Click here to read the rest from the AP.
Don't know about you, but I am heading outside right now with a shovel to dig in the dirt to extend my vegetable garden plot.
While I am at it, I think I will add a root cellar to.

FDA's new numbers: over 8,500 pets reported dead. ASPCA's press release warns pet owners to feed only US sourced protein supplements

Two very big stories concerning the pet food recall hit the main stream media yesterday.
Itchmo.com has the highlights of yesterday's FDA news conference:

***Of 17,000 calls up to 50% claimed their pets died.
***Pet food from 2006 tested positive for melamine. No samples available prior to that date.
***2.7 million chickens ate tainted food. In addition, tainted pet food consumed by chickens in hundreds of farms.
***Will not give clear answer to whether people ate those chickens.
***No details given on investigation in China. Not even the number of investigators.
***Can’t rule out contamination in other vegetable protein.
***All tainted ingredients went to pet food companies.

Item number two:
The ASPCA reminds us that this pet food crisis is far from over, especially in light of the cross contamination found at Menu Food plants this week.
The ASPCA warns that pet owners need to be pro-active concerning what commercial diets pet owners feed their pets. The ASPCA advises not to buy any pet foods without first checking with the manufacturers where their ingredients come from.
Remember you cannot tell from just reading a label. That is one of the things that we want changed. We need better labeling requirements in this country.

Below is the press release in it's entirely direct from the ASPCA web site. Words in bold are their emphasis.

NEW YORK, May 3, 2007—With Menu Foods yesterday greatly expanding its recall of pet food products due to new evidence of cross-contamination, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today warned pet parents that this crisis is far from over, and urged them to watch their pets closely for any symptoms that may be related to the recall.

“Given the fact that there is new evidence of cross-contamination in ingredients that may have been considered safe prior to this news, we need to be much more aware of where the ingredients in our pets’ food are coming from,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, a board-certified toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), located in its Midwest Office in Urbana, Ill.

“We are strongly recommending that pet parents immediately investigate, via their pet food manufacturer’s Web site or by calling them directly, where the ingredients—specifically protein supplements—are sourced from.”

Given the current situation and until this crisis is resolved, the ASPCA is recommending pets be fed products containing U. S.-sourced protein supplements only.
“The continued expansion of the recall is extremely worrying,” said Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital (BMAH) in New York City, and a board-certified internist. “The magnitude of this crisis leaves us frustrated as to how to best protect pets and prevent any more illnesses or deaths.”

However, recent media reports that laboratory experiments on the interaction of melamine and cyanuric acid in cat urine showed the formation of crystals, are not surprising to ASPCA experts, and offer a glimmer of hope to veterinarians who have been worrying about how to save sick animals who have ingested the contaminated food.

“The fact that we have started to learn how the presence of melamine may be impacting these animals, gives us a small glimmer of hope—that at least we know we are on the right track when it comes to treating the animals affected,” said Dr. Hansen. “These findings really start putting everything else we have seen into perspective.”

In a study that was done several years ago on dogs and rats, the presence of melamine in their systems was found to only lead to the development of crystals in urine, but there were no further adverse effects—and nothing that showed a direct link between the chemical mechanism of melamine and the renal failure recently seen in the affected animals.

“Now that we see that crystals are formed when melamine and cyanuric acid are combined in cat urine, it may be that the cause of renal failure is somehow related to the obstruction caused by these crystals,” continued Dr. Hansen.

This also explains why animals whose symptoms were detected early enough, and who were rushed to their veterinarians and put on aggressive fluid therapy—as the ASPCA has been recommending—survived; since this treatment may help to prevent additional crystals from forming, and aid in flushing out the existing crystals from the animals’ urinary tracts, thus relieving the obstruction and reversing the effects of renal failure.

“Patience is the key,” said Dr. Murray, who has successfully treated several animals thus-affected with aggressive fluid therapy at BMAH. “We now understand that we have to bathe these crystals in fluid for as long as possible. With other causes of kidney failure, if there is no improvement in the animal’s condition after a day or two, the prognosis is usually not encouraging.

“In this case, however, when treating animals who have been sickened by eating the contaminated foods, longer-term intravenous fluids may be required —so we would strongly recommend that all veterinarians treating such cases be patient and continue administering fluids longer than they might otherwise, because they can really be life-saving.”

Unofficial estimates, including by those in the veterinary community, suggest the number of recall-related deaths may be in the thousands. The pet food recall crisis continues to unfold, with new developments appearing daily, and ramifications at the international trade, business and human health levels. As recently as yesterday, Menu Foods greatly expanded its recall list because of evidence of cross-contamination at plants where the contaminated ingredients were in use.

The ASPCA continues to warn pet parents to stay extremely alert to the situation. “Please stay abreast of recall news, which you can do via our Pet Food Recall Resource Center on our website, and remain extremely vigilant to your pets’ wellbeing. If they have eaten any of the recalled foods or show any of the signs generally attributed to kidney failure—or illness in general—please take them to your veterinarian immediately,” urged Dr. Murray.

The ASPCA continues to monitor the situation, and is providing regular updates and advice for pet parents at its Pet Food Recall Resource Center at www.aspca.org/recall.
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href="http://itchmoforums.com/index.php?topic=308.0">
Itchmo has a new forum to help you find a safe pet food here.

recalls recalls recalls more more more recalls!!!

Thanks to Itchmo (above) for their recall alerts! What ever did we do without them? Itchmo rocks! Click the above link for info, and by all means sign up for their recall alerts. I have lost track of how many recall alerts they have sent me.

For an easy to read list, including new recalls in red, go to The Pet Food List. Hard working bloggers they are!

Click here to go to the master list.

It is circulating around that web that greed is showing it's ugly head in the form of adds that direct folks to out dated recall info web sites.
Shame on them!

For the latest, there is Itchmo, Pet Connection, Pet Food Tracker and the Pet Food List. That is all. The rest of us are getting our info from them.
All of the above all always miles ahead of the FDA. The FDA site is slow to update, but has a great search feature. It has not been updated since April 30th. Click here to check the FDA site.

There has been a lot of news in the recall world since I took a brain break these last few days. Except of the very huge, I am passing the recall blogging torch to those listed above who are doing it pretty much full time. Huge news you can expect to find here, but I just can't keep up with it, and the above four are doing a stellar job.

latest recall list

Co-Op Gold
Go Natural -----Menu foods has removed this from the list! 5/3
Health Diet Gourmet Cuisine
La Griffe
Master Choice
Nu Pet
Performatrin Ultra
Triumph
Truly
Western Family Canada

19 New Cat Brands – Menu Foods Recall on 5-2-07 due to cross-contamination(All of these are canned foods only, except the Triumph which also includes pouches)

Cat’s Choice
Co-Op Gold
Despar
Fame
Feline Classic
Feline Cuisine
Giant Eagle
J.E. Mondou
La Griffe
Master Choice
Medi-Cal Natural Ultramix
Nu Pet
Performatrin Ultra
Roche Brothers
Roundy’s
Stuzzy Gold
Triumph
Western Family Canada
Your Pet

Dog Food Brands that added new flavors to the list
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Compliments
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy Vee
Natural Life
Ol' Roy Canada
Pet Pride / Good n Meaty
Presidents Choice
Priority US
Schnucks
Springfield Prize
Stater Brothers
Western Family US

Cat Food Brands that added new flavors to the list
Americas Choice, Preferred Pet
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket
Drs Foster & Smith
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy Vee
Laura Lynn
Master Choice
Meijer's Main Choice
Nutro
Paws
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority Canada
Priority US
Schnucks
Sophisticat
Special Kitty Canada
Springfield Prize
Wegmans
White Rose
Winn Dixie

Makes you sick doesn't it?

Six more recalls!---Keep Our Pets Safe March April 28th in Portland

Update, 4/26: 4,515 pets have been reported as deceased into the Pet Connection database.

If you are a dog or cat owner you should be very angry today. Six weeks after the initial Menu Foods recall we have received news of SIX new recall companies since yesterday.
Yesterday we learned that companies like Blue Buffalo who have sourced out their food production, have had poison in the form of melamine tainted rice protein added to their recipes. This is food tampering, and as consumers, we can no longer trust pet food labels. Rice protein is not even listed on the labels. Blue Buffalo is not alone.
As consumers, how the heck are we supposed to know what to buy and what is safe?

This is outrageous!

Yesterday we learned that Costco pulled food off their shelves after one of their products tested positive for melamine by the FDA, well before the FDA was holding a press conference telling the world that everything was under control and that the public should not be expecting any more recalls.
There were 6 more soon after the briefing.

This is outrageous!

The latest six with tainted rice protein are:

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul
Costco's Kirkland brand canned food
Natural Balance recalled more food
Diamond
Lick your Chops
Blue Buffalo recalled more food

update more recalls added-
Harmony Farms Recalls Cans and Biscuits
April 27th, 2007

Harmony Farms food is made by American Nutrition. They are recalling cans and biscuits due to “tampering” by American Nutrition.
and
Mulligan Stew and Canine Caviar Dog Food Recalled for the same reaason of tampering by Anerican Nutrition

Isn't that outrageous?

When I originally signed on to sponsor the KOPS Walk (Keep Our Pets Safe) last week, it was because I was tired of reading about only 16 dead pets in the news, and I was in a position to help to bring the walk to Portland...so I did. Just last week I never dreamed the pet food story would have taken such a dramatic turn. I knew there were thousands of dead pets and I felt it was important to keep the story in the news and evoke change in the pet food industry.

But this morning? I am stunned.

Let us send a big message to Washington.
Join us in the KOPS March tomorrow, April 28th at 12:00 noon.
rain or shine
Meet on Preble Street across from Hannafords in the field next to the parking lot.

March as long or as short as you like. There is no end - just like this pet food nightmare.

We are marching in memory of our pets that have lost their lives, we are marching in memory of those pets that are fighting for their lives, we march as pet owners, dog lovers, cat lovers and average citizens that are tired of the lowered safety standards for goods coming in to this country. We are marching for a national reporting system for veterinarians.

To view the National KOPS Keep Our Pets Safe march page. click here
To view the local flyer, print it out and distribute, click here.
To see a list of all recalled food on Pet Food Tracker, click here

As usual for the latest information, check Pet Connection.com, and Itchmo.com

Rice Protein Recall: Drs. Foster & Smith Adult Dry Lite Dog and Adult Dry Lite Cat Food

From the Foster and Smith web site:

the rest is here:
Everyone is wondering....is this numbmer 5? If it is....why did they only hear about the recall today?

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Portland has joined the nation wide KOPS - Keep Our Pets Safe March
This Saturday April 28th @ 12:00 on the Back Cove.
Meet across from Hannafords on Preble Street. The walk will be held rain or shine.

More info here.

Latest recall - 4 down, 1 to go

Live Smart Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice Recall

press release here

FDA is looking into hogs and chickens and an array of glutens.

Sorry no time to blog today, you will have to go read it yourselves at Itcmo.com and Pet Connection.

Training and "fluff" blogs will return next week!

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Portland has joined the nation wide KOPS - Keep Our Pets Safe March
This Saturday April 28th @ 12:00 on the Back Cove.
Meet across from Hannafords on Preble Street. The walk will be held rain or shine.

More info here.

Yes Virginia there is a Pile -O- Death

Have you lost a pet due to the recent pet food recall?
Are you sick of hearing that there are only 16 dead pets from the pet food recalls?
Head on over to Itchmo's pet forum and join the Pile -O-Death mass postcard mailing.
Members of the Pile- 0-Death forum are asking pet owners to mail postcards to senators and media with pictures of their deceased pets on April 28th , the day of the KOPS Pet March.

Names, address and more information here.

Pass it on

More recalls likely-

Yeti passed away on 3-31-2007 after eating recalled dog food. He was a very good boy, and will be missed. Yeti is not one of the official 16 dead pets.

Update, 4/23: 4,458 pets have been reported as deceased into the Pet Connection database.

After nearly 6 weeks of pet recalls, we are still waiting for more.
The FDA has yet name the other two pet food companies that Wilbur-Ellis shipped the tainted rice protein to, and now there is a second US distributor that is being checked into as well. The second distributor has come to our attention via inside information shared with the senate investigators NOT the FDA.

As we have come to expect, Pet Connection, has the latest scoops.
They have done a great job disseminating all the information,and there is a lot of new information this morning.

To read the most current Pet Connection blog click here.

To read:
Pet food recall: Congressional committee hearing on pet food recall
click here

To read
Pet-food recall: Senators say second batch of tainted rice powder imported

click here

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Portland has joined the nation wide pet KOPS - Keep Our Pets Safe March
This Saturday April 28th @ 12:00 on the Back Cove.
Meet across from Hannafords on Preble Street. The walk will be held rain or shine.

More info here.

"At least 16 pets have died"...

Abigail, Alex and Allie (June 15, 2001- Feb. 17, 2007)
Allie is not one of the official 16 dead pets.

Update, 4/22: 4,444 pets have been reported as deceased into the Pet Connection database.

This pet food recall has had many of us asking:
Has anything like this ever this happened before and been swept under the rug?
What else don't we know?
and
What would have happened if blogs hadn't picked up on the story and made it front page news?

After all it was bloggers that kept this story going. Did you know that it was a commentor on the Pet Connection blog who alerted the public to the Chinese importers of wheat gluten? That single post started an entire new series of recalls, which in turn led to the realization that the poison melamine has reached the human food chain. Let us not forget that the FDA official number has gone from "16 dead pets" to "at least 16 dead". That is ludicrous and I find it personally insulting. We understand that currently there is no way to accurately tally the numbers of sick and dead pets, but at the very least they should change the number to reflect the very public death of the sweet Golden Retriever from the CBS story.

Take a look at this story, posted by commenter in Pet Connections blog-

Pet Food Express sues firm over kibble scare in 2003
Chain seeks money for discounts and vet bills it paid after animal deathsBy Paul T. Rosynsky
MEDIANEWS STAFF

Article Launched: 04/06/2007 03:16:21 AM PDT

OAKLAND -- As the nationwide pet food scare continues, the details of a similar Bay Area scare in fall 2003 will be revealed in court next week.
Pet Food Express, an independent chain with 31 stores in the Bay Area, is suing the manufacturer of the Go Natural brand of pet food, which the retailer says caused the deaths of at least 20 dogs more than three years ago.

Similar to the fears now being felt by consumers who fed their pets Menu Foods-produced pet food, the case in 2003 scared owners who had fed their animals dry kibble under the Go Natural brand.

... soon after the food's manufacturer, Petcurean, contracted out production of the Go Natural brand to another firm, Merrick Petfoods, dogs and cats eating the kibble began falling ill with liver problems.

As the complaints started piling in, Petcurean agreed to a voluntary recall
...

A federal Food and Drug Administration study conducted soon after the scare was reported found that "a definitive cause of the ill effects of the dogs and cats has not been determined."

Studies by the government did not find anything in the food that was above regulations or abnormal.

However, it did find the presence of BHA, a preservative that is allowed in pet food but one that Petcurean had not listed as an ingredient.

Although the FDA found higher than acceptable levels of BHA in some samples, scientists could not say that it was the cause of deaths.

Nevertheless, pet owners filed a class-action lawsuit against Petcurean and Pet Food Express. The lawsuit was thrown out of court.

The entire article can be found here.
Very interesting....and all the more reason to join the National March to Keep Our Pets Safe on April 28th @ 12:00 noon on the Back cove.

The Portland flyer can be found here.

On the Keep Our Pets Home page Jen, the march's organizer, has added a Frappr map. At last check there were 40 pets posted as dead by their owners and she only posted it yesterday. No pets from Maine were represented on the map (yet).

Update-On her Dogged blog, Christie Keith calls for the FDA to come forward and name the other two companies that got the melamine rice protein.
A good read here.
says Christie:
"I suppose I'm a really strange person, because I'd like to make up my own mind about whether or not I want to risk buying something that may or may not contain a contaminant that can kill my dog or cat. Or, you know, me, since I'm also quite fond of being alive, and extremely attached to my kidneys".

Update 7:00 PM-
Royal Canin recalls more food. This time it was for cyanuric acid-not melamine.
This is brand new recall.
More info on Royal Canin's web site here.

We still await the news of the next two pet food companies.

FDA opens criminal investigation-human food affected

The Washington Post is reporting that the FDA has (finally!!!) opened a criminal investigation.

The Food and Drug Administration has opened a criminal investigation in the widening pet food contamination scandal, officials said yesterday, as it was confirmed that tainted pork might have made its way onto human dinner plates in California.

More than 100 hogs that ate contaminated food at a custom slaughterhouse in California's Central Valley were sold to private individuals and to an unnamed licensed facility in Northern California during the past 2 1/2 weeks. The hogs consumed feed that contained rice protein tainted with melamine, the industrial chemical that has sickened and killed dogs and cats around the world.

Almost a dozen companies have found that they have used melamine-contaminated ingredients from China in their animal foods, either wheat gluten, corn gluten or rice protein concentrate. In the United States, more than 60 million containers of cat and dog food have been pulled from the market in the past five weeks.

People who bought pork from the American Hog Farm, a 1,500-animal facility in Ceres, Calif., between April 3 and April 18 are being advised not to eat the meat, California health officials said yesterday, although there have been no reports of illness in either people or the hogs. Authorities are tracking down all the purchasers.

Full story here.

The Boston Globe reports:

WASHINGTON -- An industrial chemical linked to kidney failure in dogs and cats has found its way into the human food supply chain. California officials quarantined 1,500 animals at the American Hog Farm and are tracking who purchased nearly 100 hogs from the farm this month, when the animals' feed included pet food that had been tainted with melamine .

In addition, 26 hogs were sold and slaughtered at an unnamed processing plant in northern California . Federal authorities quarantined those unprocessed carcasses at that plant, but state officials expect to identify more California processing plants that purchased the hogs.

You can fetch the rest of the article here.

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Portland has joined KOPS the Nationwide March to Keep Our Pets Safe
April 28th 12:00 noon
Meet in the field across from Hannafords on the Back Cove-Portlland

You can view and print the flyer here.

Please help to spread the word by distributing flyers in your area