Dog lovers are demanding the big retailer Costco stop selling doggie treats they think are responsible for several canine deaths. The jerky treats are made in China, and the importer says they have been tested by an independent lab there and are safe.
Alda Wirsche and her vet are convinced her dog, Rosie died of renal failure after eating Vitalife Duck Tenders for three weeks. After reviewing the vet’s report though, the importer said he could not understand how the connection was made between Rosie’s death and Vitalife treats.
Many complaints, no proof
Since 2011, dog owners and vets made 86 complaints, including seven reports of fatalities to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received 5,600 complaints of renal failure since 2007.
Despite exhaustive testing by the FDA it is still not clear there is a link between the renal failures and doggie treats. More testing is being done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
But that does not solve the public relations headache facing Costco. People in North America take their pets’ welfare extremely seriously.
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