The summer of 2008 featured more dreaded pet food recalls, and an unknown number of pets have reportedly become sickened. A few dog and cat owners even say their pets have died as a result of the contaminated pet food. This has left many pet owners wondering, "What should I do?"
Dog and cat owners who are thinking about seeking compensation for veterinary bills or considering a lawsuit will need to collect certain documents to support their claims. The same applies to pet owners who are considering joining a class action lawsuit against a pet food company, now or in the future.
How the 2008 Pet Food Recalls Occurred
In August 2008, Mars Petcare U.S. issued a voluntary dog food recall for Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites dog food affects Costco in Northern California, Nevada, and Albertsons stores in Southern California and Las Vegas.
On September 12, 2008, Mars Petcare U.S. issued a second, larger voluntary pet food recall due to the potential for salmonella contamination affecting Pedigree dog food and more than a dozen other brands of dry dog and cat food. This pet food recall affected hundreds of bags of food that were distributed throughout the United States.
According to Mars Petcare, the contamination occurred at the company's Everson, Pennsylvania manufacturing plant, where at least one employee was said to be infected with salmonella. It's believed that this is how the possible pet food contamination occurred.
Notably, just two weeks after the second pet food recall was issued, it was announced the Everson, PA pet food plant is closing permanently.
What Documents Should Pet Owners Obtain?
There are several pieces of documentation a pet owner should obtain if he's thinking about contacting the pet food company to seek compensation for vet bills if it's believed that a dog or cat became sick with salmonella as a result of eating recalled pet food.
Owners of pets who died due to salmonella that's believed to be the result of eating tainted pet food should also collect the following documents and evidence to support their claims. These documents and pieces of evidence will be vital in the event that the pet owner decides to file a lawsuit, or if he decides to join a class action lawsuit.
- The Pet Food Bag: Many pet owners threw away the original bag that the recalled pet food came in. But a few owners kept their bags. If this is the case, keep the bag, even if the recalled pet food is returned to the store for an exchange or refund.
- The Store Receipt: If the receipt for the purchase of the recalled pet food has not been thrown away, file it away. For pet owners who no longer have their receipt, contact the store where the food was purchased. Membership-only stores like Costco or BJ's keep records of what each customer purchases. Target and a few other large retailers keep receipt information on-file for anyone who makes a purchase using a credit card. Contact the store where the food was purchased and find out how to obtain a record of your purchase of the recalled pet food. Pet owners who purchased tainted pet food with a credit card can also contact the credit card company for information on the purchase.
- The Vet Bill: Obtain an itemized bill from the veterinary clinic where the cat or dog was treated for salmonella.
- A Letter from the Veterinarian: Dog and cat owners must obtain a letter from their veterinarian, confirming that the pet was treated for salmonella and that the recalled pet food was the suspected source of the salmonella.
- A Copy of Lab Tests: In confirmed cases of salmonella, lab tests will have been performed on a fecal sample from the sick cat or dog. Obtain a copy of these lab results from the veterinarian's office.
Pet owners who are thinking about joining a class action lawsuit concerning a pet food recall, or anyone who is planning to seek compensation from the pet food manufacturer (for veterinary bills or for a pet's wrongful death) should contact an attorney for a consultation. Many attorneys who are familiar with class action lawsuits and lawsuits seeking compensation will provide a free consultation. Laws vary from state to state and the process for recouping costs or filing a lawsuit will vary depending on the pet owner's state of residency.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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