Because friends let friends know

[Frankie]

As many of you know I lost my dog of almost 17 years back in August, my 2nd dog became very ill and was in the hospital for about a week.

I will just provide facts and you can decide for yourself.

We found very large chunks of mold in their food. It was found down in the bag and they had eaten it for some time. It was stored in my house that is always at 72 for the animals.

The maker of the food is Mars. They make several kinds of dog food.

The dog that was ill did make it, but it wasn't easy. He had over 20 tests that ruled out anything else.

I have lost track of the number of people I spoke with, emailed, faxed to, from both Mars and their insurance company Liberty Mutual. Of all those I spoke with, not one single person expressed concern or compassion for my dogs.

What I was told.

They do not dispute the mold.

This particular type of mold most likely happened because the dog food was sealed before cooling.

Most dogs who eat this type of mold will have high liver enzymes, not all.

Most dogs it will just make a little ill.

My dog died from it because he was old. My 2nd dog became very ill because testing showed he has a lower immune level.

My claim with them has been denied.

Ok, so he was older, and the other has a lower immune level,,,do they NOT still have the right to have healthy dog food? I was upset as no one there cared one ounce as to the health of my dogs,,,is that not the business they are in,,,so yes, only then did I file a claim,,,but only for my vet bills.

I know, it is a big corporation what did I expect? At the very least, to care about the animals they were feeding, or at least pretend. I would also like to add that through the first 80% of all of this, I remained calm and was polite with all I spoke with. I contacted them because I thought they would want to know in case it was a bigger problem, to make sure it wasn't happening to others.

I really do feel it important to share the information I have, each will do as they feel they need to do, I understand that. Some times we make decisions based on information we are given and do want you to know I have given you 100% facts.

My hope is to find a dog food company that cares about the dogs they are providing food for,,,because my point with all of this is, they just never cared.

 

[Aristocratic Minis]

So very sorry this happened to your old pal of many years. We love them, we care for them and we try to do our best for them. When their food is tainted, we grieve that we could have prevented that.

I'm also so sorry that the company did not acknowledge your sorrow nor take any responsibility for the loss of your dog.

When you are so sad and upset, it is a shame that no one seems to understand how hurt you are.

 

[horsefeather]

Frankie,

First, I'm sorry for the loss of your friend and the emotional highs and lows with your other dog. Have you contacted your local paper to see if the just 'might' be interested in this story? Tell them you just want to warn other pet owners. Might help.

Pam

 

[Frankie]

I can't tell you how much I miss him. Them paying me a million dollars will not bring him back, but I did not want money. Actually didn't want anything except to make sure it was not a major problem, and others may be going through, and didn't want them to. If I am selling Christmas fudge on line, and it makes the people sick I sell it to, I would want to know. But I realized as talking to all of these people, they just didn't care.

As I have thought about it,,,nothing I do or say will make them care,,,so my 4 dogs and I will "dine" elsewhere.

And if others know, maybe they will do the same, but I can't make them do that either. Just providing information.

 

[anoki]

I am soo sorry to hear you have gone through all of this.....it makes me sick...

But I realized as talking to all of these people, they just didn't care.

You are wrong on one point....they only care that $$$$ is still coming in the door. They don't care about what materials are being put into their food, as long as it is the cheapest they can find. They don't care about the welfare of the animals it's going to, unless thousands start getting sick, and people start putting 2 and 2 together. I get very frustrated with the 'big' pet food companies that don't care about the animals, just the bottom line, but boy, do they ever have great marketing skills

I could go on and on, but I won't.....

I am really, really sorry.....I can't imagine how devastated I would be if I were in your shoes....

((((hugs))))

~kathryn

 

[Charlene]

i'm so sorry you have had to go through this.

i had been feeding California Natural kibble for almost a year. the last bag i opened, i noticed the kibble was a different color. not thinking too much about it, i went ahead and fed it. later in the day, all 3 of my dogs had explosive diarrhea. i called the company and they assured me nothing had changed but i really didn't expect them to admit anything. CN was bought out by proctor & gamble last spring and i am satisfied that they have altered the kibble, probably went to a different supplier for meat, etc., and their kibble is now lesser quality...

the woman i spoke to told me they would be happy to send me a coupon for a free bag but i had to first send them my receipt, the bar code off the bag AND a sample of the kibble from the bag! i told her that i thought that was a little above and beyond what i should have to do. she said that's just the way they do it. so, i said if she can't send me a coupon without me jumping through 10 hoops since i have been feeding this kibble faithfully for almost a year, then i would find a different kibble for my dogs. she didn't hesitate to tell me fine, if that's what i needed to do, so be it. she was not the least bit helpful nor was she compassionate. i switched kibbles and that's that. i never heard back from the CN people. :arg!

 

[Marty]

Carolyn, many years ago my vet came and administered the West Nile Vaccine when it first came out by Ft Dodge. Within a couple of hours every single horse on my place was down and had all sorts of reactions and one nearly died and was taken back to the hospital with the vet who gave the shots and he was there for days. Because I had proof of this, Ft Dodge was very happy to cover all my vet bills and fast.

If you have any concrete proof whatsoever that this dog food killed your beloved baby I would pursue it.

 

[Frankie]

Marty, I sent the bag of food to them, they agree the mold was in the food. They do not dispute the mold. Their consumer affairs person stated, this kind of mold comes from sealing the bag before cooling.

And then their insurance company denied my claim.

Nothing I do will make them show concern for the life their food has taken, they have already proven that.

There was a thread here asking about what dog food we used, I added to that thread and sung their praises, so I feel I have the same right to take it back.

 

[Miniv]

It's upsetting that these companies don't care about the animals or the customers. It makes me wonder, since they are so uncaring, what cr*p they are puting into the food!

On another note, their stupidity is that they should know that people talk. And with the power of the internet, that should be in capital letters: PEOPLE TALK!

 

[Katiean]

There is a Mars plant Just outside of Town here in Nevada. I worked there as a temp several years ago. It really blew my mind that almost everyone bring their dogs to work. You would think that would be a health problem for other dogs if someones dog had parvo or something. They do make several different types of dog and cat food out there. I know I could not do their quality control job. Back then anyway. The QA people would taste the dog and cat food. Not to defend them, but, I know they are careful with the product. It is possible that they feel you should have checked your dogs food before you fed it. I know I have run into problems in my grain for the horses. I always check the feed before it goes into their feed pans. Even though they do admit that the mold is a problem that happened at the plant, they most likely feel that you as the consumer should have looked at the food before feeding it to your dogs. Just a thought. Also, if you want to pursue this, even though their insurance denied your claim, You can take them to court and let a judge decide who is at fault.