Below the fold is a copy of a letter I just sent to all of my dog-loving friends and everyone who thinks companies should be held accountable for their actions (or inactions).
Manufacturing defects happen; practically speaking – they’re unavoidable. None-the-less, a "good" company recalls the products immediately, corrects the defect and assumes responsibility. A "bad" company ignores the problem, lies about it, and refuses to accept responsibility (unless forced to do so) – possibly causing harm and injury or even death.
This diary, although it pertains to a specific manufacturer of pet products, is primarily to urge everyone to take action against companies (if you do not already do so) who act irresponsibly and without integrity. In particular, it is my hope you will relay this information on to your friends and acquaintances if you find it appropriate to do so.
I realize this diary is not specifically "political" but it is political in the sense that it concerns various aspects of our governmental regulatory bodies, lack of regulatory oversight in many instances, and our personal ability to bring integrity to all aspects of our society by holding government, corporations and individuals accountable.
Here's the background (note all bold and italics in the quotes are mine):
Four Paws is in the category of a "bad" company!
The company, Four Paws, manufactures a variety of pet products that it markets to dog owners through various pet stores and other outlets. One of their products, a chew toy for dogs, the "Pimple Ball with Bell" has a manufacturing defect that is very dangerous and has caused serious, horrific injury and death to a number of dogs.
According to reports, a manufacturing defect resulted in the ball having only a single hole in its surface – apparently the 2nd hole (which would eliminate the danger of suction being created) was either blocked or not present in some of their products. Suction created by the dog when chewing on the toys in which the 2nd hole is blocked or not present, can cause the dog’s tongue to become lodged in the hole. Because the hole into which the dog’s tongue is sucked is small, it is very difficult to release the tongue and the restricted size of the hole can cause the tongue to swell, thus cutting off blood supply to the tongue.
A number of dogs have had to have their tongues amputated as a result of the injuries they sustained in this manner and some have died horrible deaths.
If you have this toy, be sure to check it to make sure it has the 2nd hole and that the opening is not blocked. Here’s the rest of the story and links to the information referenced:
http://72.14.205.104/...
http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/
http://www.fourpaws.com/... (link to Four Paws website re product recall issued 8/26/2008).
Four Paws was notified of this problem in July, 2005 (perhaps earlier). Between the 2005 incident and reports of several subsequent incidents, as of June 2008 wherein yet another dog was seriously injured by this toy (according to the sources provided), they had still failed to modify or recall the product.
A recall was finally issued this week, on or about 8/26/2008, according to their customer service representative with whom I spoke today (1-800-835-0909).
That over 3 years since has passed since they were notified of the problem before the company took action is inexcusable. (The time period may be even longer - but July, 2005 is the first documented incident in which an owner reported the problem to the company that I found - although I didn’t do a lot of more in-depth research). I ask you, is this acceptable?
According to information I found through a Google search of the company name, the company is working with the owner of the dog whose tongue was amputated in June 2008, (the dog is named "Chai"), to remedy the situation. The owner of the dog stated that she has not accepted their financial offer.
It’s nice that they finally accept some responsibility. But, apparently, they are still not acknowledging their full culpability.
According to Dr. Charles Greco, a New York veterinarian in his post at http://blogs.trb.com/... Four Paws immediately took action upon learning of the problem. Here’s a portion of his post:
She also told me that when Four Paws learned of the injury to Chai they immediately stopped shipping the product to distributors and retailers. She also said that Four Paws asked any retailers that had this toy in their possession to remove the toy and send them back to Four Paws.
On August 24, 2008, however, the owner of the dog "Chai", posted this message (in part) below:
following Chai's return home, Four Paws was contacted by me without response. It was only when a friend in high places made contact on my behalf that I finally did get a response. It was my full intention to allow this company to be the heroes that they could have been had they only made the right choices. Four Paws chose instead to immediately forwarded all my correspondence to their Insurance company. I was contacted by their Insurance company and was told that it would be two weeks before I would be hearing from them as they needed to ascertain whether there was liability on their part. After weeks with no reply I finally called them myself and was then given their "offer". At that time I was told that this has NEVER happened in the past. It was my directive to them that this product needed to be recalled. I told them of my intentions to publicly expose them if they do not making the appropriate changes to their product. I then gave them two more days to reconsider their position.
I sent this information along with the reference to Petunia the french bulldog to Four Paws Inc, and it is their position that there just aren't enough instances to do anything about this.
In direct contradiction to the information supplied by the Four Paws customer service representative that was reported by Dr. Charles Greco is this statement by the owner of a dog who died in 2005:
My dog Cole was injured in exactly the same way in July of 2005. It was with the very same Four Paws ball. After phone calls and letters to the company I was assured the ball design would be changed. I have copies of what I sent to them. I was told several times this was just a freak accident and I agreed but still asked they change the design so that no other dog would suffer. I hope they did not tell you this had never happened before because I can assure you THEY KNEW about the problem in 2005
Yet, here is an excerpt from an August 21, 2008 Four Paws customer service letter in response to the June 2008 incident with Chai:
Dogs have been enjoying the Pimple Ball with Bell for more than a decade with over 500,000 units sold. In all the years this product has been on the market, this is the first injury of this nature that we are aware of. Unfortunately, accidents sometimes happen.
They had to be threatened in order to initiate a recall this product . . . And, they’re lying about when they initially discovered a problem with their product. Again, they did not notify their distributors until on or about 8/26/2008. The injury to the dog, Chai, was reported to the company on or about 8/22/2008.
It was three years after the injury to Cole was reported in July of 2005, and an additional two months after the latest incident - coupled with a threat to expose their negligence - before they took action.
The company is obviously down-playing their failure to address the situation for at least a 3 year period – and lying about it. Shame on them! Is this a company you want to do business with???
I urge you to notify all of your animal-loving friends about this product and to (now and in the future) boycott ALL products manufactured by Four Paws due to their failure to responsibly address this matter in a timely fashion and, subsequently, lying about it.
I also hope you will send a message in this regard to the company (perhaps similar to the following). You can address it to the Four Paws CEO, Mr. Allen Simon at: hbirk@fourpaws.com
I also urge you to undertake similar action against any company which markets any product that they know to be defective and/or dangerous. Even though there may be no laws enforcing certain manufacturing and product safety standards (as in this instance: The US Consumer Product Safety Commission does not regulate pet products like toys, and there are no mandated manufacturing standards) we can force companies to be more conscientious. How? By refusing to buy any of their products in the future!
Here is a copy of my letter to Mr. Simon:
Mr. Allen Simon,
I am in support of an ongoing boycott of your company’s products because of your failure to, in a timely manner, recall the chew toy product: Pimple Ball with Bell - that had a known manufacturing defect. For at least 3 years, you have been aware that the product defect could cause irreparable damage, extreme pain, and even death when it is chewed by dogs. You were informed of the danger associated with this toy during (or prior to) 2005, yet failed to act (recall the toy) until 8/26/2008 according to your customer service representative with whom I spoke today. Further, your representatives are lying to the public concerning when this defect was initially brought to your attention. Despicable!
I am appalled that your company knew of the danger this product presented but, even after your company was notified that a number of dogs have been seriously injured – some of which died as a result - the product was not recalled, nor was it modified, for over 3 years. Over 3 years! Absolutely unacceptable!
I have provided you a copy of the message I am sending to my friends in order to make you aware of the consequences of your inaction on this matter; consequences which will, hopefully, have a negative impact on the future viability of your company. It is my goal that information regarding the negligence of your company be widely circulated. Whether regulated by our government agencies or not, companies like yours that fail to act in a timely and responsible manner, as well as those who lie to the public, will be held accountable by their customers and the millions of other people who, like me, expect companies to act with integrity. You, Sir - and your company - have failed miserably!
Thank you for bearing with me. This is my second dairy ever though I've been lurking for a couple years. I hope I haven't strayed from protocol in any way - but if so - please correct me and I'll do better in the future.
Please alert your friends and hopefully take action against any/all companies who abuse their right to do business in our country.