Honestly, I don't have a problem with this suit. Company screwed up, didn't really do much to own up, lots of people's pets are going to die because of their screw-up.
If you sell a poisoned product, you can expect to be sued.
That gal's got a lot of gall. Her cat is 9 years old and she's taking it to the vet for the first time?! She obviously didn't care for the health of her cat before she learned of the pet food recall.
FDA pet food recall information:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html
(OK, I know the cat's name was Phoenix, but he-he.)
I don't blame anyone for suing. IF one of my kitties would have died, I would not only sue, but I would track down those responsible and feed them a little of their own poison. LOL Of course, I really wouldn't do that but I'd sure be mad enough to strangle someone for killing my kitties. They're my babies. ;o)
If this had happened to MY dogs, especially if one had died, woe be unto them, is all I can say.
papa
I have not been following this story. Was it a liberal attack on our Viking Kitties?
Good post. Informative.
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_dog.html
Predictable - and warranted!
Thanks to Hair & Slings and all who've borrowed their critter ping lists to keep FR pet owners informed about the Menu Foods recall.
I wonder if some of our resident lawyers would comment on the potential of suits like this one. I am under the impression that the courts attach far less value to the life of domestic animals than the lives of humans ... for a cat, maybe a few hundred bucks.
I wonder if some nasty person put antifreeze in the food?
What the hell,,,they knew something in the food was killing the the animals they tested it on, and they still kept it on the market. They deserve to be sued big time.
Q: "If my pet was affected, can I sue?"
A: "Probably not. Under the law, pets are generally treated as property, and an owner can only request compensation to replace them, says Mary Randolph, author of Every Dog's Legal Guide (Nolo Press). While a few judges have assigned damages to owners whose animals were injured or killed, the cases are rare, and all were in lower courts, so they don't set precedents."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-03-19-qanda-food_N.htm
I agree with the lawsuit and will be joining it.
Let me say first and foremost that I take my cat to the vet once a year - whether she likes it or not and believe me she does NOT like it! :) I go to the vet every month to get her medicine. And there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her. I believe that when you take on an animal (cat, dog, rabbit, horse, whatever) you take it on for life and it is a family member. You give it shelter, food, medical care and LOTS of LOVE.
My cat has not died BUT I found out that she is in mild renal failure. And yes it is from the recalled food. Her food, Iams, was the food I checked the date and plant codes and my vet recorded the info. I also had a friend double check the numbers before I called the vet to make sure I was not just seeing things.
I am one of the lucky one, my cat did not die and is only in mild failure, so one might ask why sue? Well I asked the same question. But everyone that I have talked to has informed me that now I will be taking my cat for additional vet visits, testing and due to the vets recommendations will be feeding her prescription cat food due to the renal failure. So that is an added cost also. But like many pet owners will agree ... the money isn't the issue as long as the pet is okay. I am not rich by no means BUT I would make my cat do without something that was needed just because of money.
People need to understand that it is okay to do the right thing. And in this case it is the right thing to sue. I mean we didn't accidentally spill HOT coffee on ourselves and wonder why we got burnt. We bought the supposedly better food, Iams and hopes that we were giving out cat better nutrition ... and instead get poisoned. The worst part is they knew for TOO long before they went public with the knowledge. They MAY have been able to save some lives or in my case any damage to the animals.
Thanks for reading.
I hope she wins.