Four Paws Inc - Pimple Ball with Bell - Product Recall - The Chai Story

Four Paws Inc - Pimple Ball with Bell - Product Recall - The Chai Story

Dear Readers .... If you or know anyone with Pet Dogs .... Please read this article and forward it to as many as possible.

This is a true story taken from: The Chai Story




On Sunday, June 22, 2008 my 10-year old lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a product that the company Four Paws Inc, produces. The toy I'm referencing is the pimple ball with bell. (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9)

While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet, this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball preventing the vacuum effect from happening. I became aware of this when Chai approached a friend at my home whimpering with the ball in his mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the ball but the tongue had swollen and could not be released.



(photo taken of ball after vet cut away portions in order to dislodge chai's tongue)

Chai was taken to the Animal Medical Center (an emergency care facility in New York City) and was treated by Dr. Nicole Spurlock to have the ball removed. Because the size of the opening on the ball was so small, all circulation to his tongue was cut off. The doctors had to sedate him in order to remove it. Once the ball was removed, his tongue swelled to the point that he could no longer put it in his mouth. Chai was sent home with care instructions and to be observed overnight for any changes.

By the following morning Chai’s tongue had swollen even more.

He was taken to his regular vet, Dr. Timnah Lee, for treatment. He was admitted and kept sedated for a period of three days during which time they were treating his wounds and waiting to determine how much of his tongue could be saved. On June 26, 2008 Chai had his tongue amputated.

He was kept in after-care for an additional three days. On Sunday June 29th I brought Chai home from the vet with a barrage of home care instructions, to last for an additional 7 days. His next visit was to have his mouth re-examined and have the feeding tube in his neck removed.


On the way home from the vet we stopped at Petland Discount where I purchased their product to speak to the manager on duty. Upon meeting Chai and seeing his condition, he removed all of the balls in question from the shelves. He also gave me the customer service number to their corporate headquarters to request that they refuse to continue purchasing all Four Paws products, but I have not called them as of yet.



Additionally, I shared my story with friends who have a French Bulldog named Petunia. Upon hearing my story their eyes widened. They explained that the same thing happened twice in one night with a smaller version of the same ball to their dog. Fortunately, they were able to pull it off before the tongue swelled, but not without tremendous effort and pain to the dog. They recalled how horrific it was to hear their dog screaming while they had to pry the ball from her tongue.

To date, my veterinary bills total over $5000.00 and I will have regular follow up appointments for some time. Additionally, Chai now requires a much more expensive form of food because of this injury, averaging approximately $200 per month.

Also - I am Chai’s sole caretaker and the regime required to care for him following his surgery has forced me to lose a great deal of business. I am a hair stylist and my salon is in my home. Given that Chai needs constant attention, and given that he has been wailing in pain, I have not been able to see clients.

Additionally, I now have to re-teach my dog to eat, drink and adjust to life without his tongue. Just walking him requires about 30min twice a day and we only make it three blocks. Feeding him takes me about 90 minutes twice a day and for at least this first week he is not to be unattended for more than 20 minutes at time.

The following is a link to an animal treatment clinic that has also documented the same injury to a Shepard mix.





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. I told their Insurance company's case manager that was not a good enough excuse, It was inferred that my dogs value wasn't much and that his pain and suffering don't count as he is just a piece of property.


This should never happen to another animal again!
I'M CALLING FOR AN INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT OF ALL FOUR PAWS PRODUCTS UNTIL THIS PRODUCT IS RECALLED. We need your help, please take the time to make your voice heard.


Please copy/paste the following into the body of your email in support of this boycott and send it to the address below to let Allen Simon the CEO of four paws know your stand;



Mr. Allen Simon,

I am in support of a boycott of your company until you recall the product pimple ball with bell,
as it is designed in such a way that irreparable damage can be caused by its use.


customerservice@fourpaws.com

Story Taken from The Chai Story

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Preparing Your Dogs For Winter - Winterize Your Pets

Preparing Your Pets For the Winter
By John Grimes

As winter comes on in full force, we all buckle prepare our homes, cars and the like to stay warm for the coming low temperatures. You should also be preparing your pets for the coming cool weather.

We tend to think of our pets as hardy creatures. They can handle cold, water, snow and the like without any health problems. After all, they were once wild animals, right? Well, we used to live in caves as well, but you don't see me spending time out in the elements. The same goes for your pets. Just because they are animals does not mean they can automatically handle the winter weather.

If you keep a dog outside, you need to do some research. Not all pups are able to handle the cold weather. Look up your breed online or ask a vet about how you should care for the pup during the winter months.

Even if your pup can handle staying outside in the cold, you should take some basic steps to make things comfortable for them. A dog house is a must. Make sure to turn it so that the opening in the front is not facing the wind. The wind can drop temperatures significantly, so help your pup out. Try to keep the house slightly off the ground to avoid problems with rain water flooding it. Also, put a blanket in so your pup has something to sit on that isn't freezing cold like the floor.

Keeping pups active is another key to helping them through the winter. We all tend to buckle down for the winter, but your dog needs to stay in shape. Throw a ball around the yard. If it is to cold, bring the pup in and play inside the home or garage. A dog in good condition is a dog in good health.

For those of you with feline friends, the winter may not be a challenge. Some house cats simply will not mind the changing seasons at all. If you have a cat that likes to get outside, however, you need to take some steps to help them through winter. The biggest issue of cats is boredom. Give your cat something to do. Balls of yarn, toys, bird feeders and the like are all worth a go. They will keep the cat busy and let it exercise. Remember, a bored cat is grumpy and likely to do a number on some of your furniture.

Obviously, there are many other types of pets. The key with most of them is keeping them comfortable in relation to warmth. Make sure to research their needs so you do not have a tragedy in the middle of winter.

John Grimes is with http://www.allterrainco.com - makers of natural products for pets and humans alike.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Grimes

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Can The Wrong Kind of Attention Make Your Dog Sick?

Dear Readers,

Have you ever asked yourself wheter, we as pet owners make our Pets Sick by Giveing them the wrong kind of attention? ........

Read more ....

When our pet dogs become sick, there is often a natural tendency to give them special treatment. We may pat them a lot, make reassuring cooing noises, keep them on our laps more often than usual, or feed them special treats by hand. But the problem is, that doing this, we may turn create emotional problems for them later. Pets, when they are sick, need to be provided with a comparable environment that they would have had in the wild. According to some schools of thought, failing to do this may turn them into hypochondriacs later. This article will discuss what you should not do when caring for a sick pet, and provides some insight into how pets behave when they are sick.

There is often a fine line between lovingly caring for our sick canine friends, and doting on them. We can relate to how awful it is to be sick, and try to be reassuring, particularly when serious illnesses are involved. Perhaps in a sense we are overcome with how much we love our pets, and desire them to be healthy. The problem is, dogs don't know this. Being very sociable animals, they simply love the attention, and don't really understand why all that extra attention stops when they get better. We can create needy, and insecure dogs when we make a big fuss over their illness.

Understanding how dogs react in the wild can provide some clues as to how we should treat them. It also shows how strong they are, and capable of dealing with illnesses in their own way.

Dogs need a safe place they can recuperate and rest by themselves. In the wild, dogs would often take themselves off somewhere where it is quiet and warm, with access to fresh air and sunlight. They also fast instinctively, so a loss of appetite is not necessarily something that needs to be feared or fixed with force feeding, unless your vet suggests otherwise, based on their examination. Yes, a loss of appetite is a sign of illness. And if your dog doesn't eat for a few days, he should be taken to the vets, but once a vet has made appropriate recommendations, it's good to understand that this will heal itself as your dog does.

Dogs don't need extra petting when they are sick. That is something that tends to reassure their human owners more. Just by providing a safe environment, that is free of drafts, and that is clean and protected from noise and interruptions, we are providing what our pets need in times of illness. If they want to go outside to get some sun and fresh air, and provided the vet feels that is okay (taking into account the possibility of infection if they have an open wound), then let them. But don't try and force them to go outside.

Whether or not we can actually turn our pets into hypochondriacs, I don't know. Some people do believe this, and perhaps it is true in severe cases. But it is important to be aware of signs of illness, and not simply assume that your dog is play-acting.

One suggestion to determine whether your dog is actually ill, is to leave your house, and sneak back and check on your dog through a window. If he's running around, and back to his usual self, chances are that he's not sick. A vet check up will pick up any signs of illness also, so if you're in doubt, or still concerned, then take him for a check up. But don't over pet him!

Aside from giving your dog the same attention when he is sick that you would when he is well, you can avoid creating a dog that plays on illness by being generous to your pets when they are healthy. Give them lots of attention them, and feed them well, without sacrificing the training and boundaries that dogs also need. Then you'll have a happy and well-adjusted pet in sickness and in health.

Article Source: New Articles Archive

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Obese Pet Dogs

Experts said that fat dogs are likely to live 2 years less than lean dogs and have a much poorer quality of life. The report also said that many dog owners have no idea that their dogs are overweight and feed them unhealthily with treats such as crisps and chocolate

The PDSA analysed the weight of 4000 dogs between March and October last year. After the north-east, Scotland and Northern Ireland followed with obesity at 26% and London with 25%. The leanest dogs were in the south-east (excluding London) coming in at 12%. The PDSA has been collecting data on fat dogs for three years via mobile pet clinics but this is the first time it has presented an overall view.

About a quarter of Britain's dogs are clinically obese according to a new report from pet charity, PDSA. And, according to a new 'fat map', Britain's fattest dogs are in the north-east of England - with 28% of the dogs there being obese.


Spokeswoman Elaine Pendlebury said, "Our figures show that there is a real need for pet owners to help their overweight dogs lose those excess pounds. Too much weight on a dog can accelerate arthritis, lead to diabetes and ruin its quality of life."

She continued to say that dog owners should exercise their dogs more and, in extreme cases, alter their diets. Plus, that giving dogs too many treats is the quickest way to make them obese - even small snacks can make them quickly put on weight. The PDSA also reports that in the last 20 years the number of obese cats has doubled and that even rabbits and hamsters have increased in overweight numbers. Some animal charities have even taken to prosecuting pet owners over overfeeding their pets.

So... the solution dear readers .... if you love your dogs / pets ..... do give them good food but control their food intake & do bring them out for exercise .....

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Kenny Sia Skidded and Crashed His Car

Kenny Sia Skidded and Crahsed His Car !! ?? !!

This is a Blog Sphere News Update.

Popular Malaysian & Fellow Sarawakian Super Star Blogger Kenny Sia, just skidded and crashed his car (Hyundai Elantra 1.8l)!

From the picture (Updated on July 25th, 2008, at around 14:20:14) his car looks fine. May have a few minor dents and scratches.

However, properties and vehicles can be replace, but not human lives. Lets hope he escaped unscratched.

Drive carefully dear readers.

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Sure and Steady Puppy and Dog Training

Puppy & Dog Training Online

Puppy dog obedience training is as easy as 1,2,3. But if you don't know how you are doing it will look truly difficult in the beginning. This article may issue out you amidst expert training info that you provided utilize when considering bringing a new puppy dog into your home, so pay attention.

1) You have to establish yourself as leader of the pack or also known as alpha dog. If this is not done than your new companion will think he/she is boss. This step should be carried out rather quickly, because it won't take your new arrival for a while now to imagine they can be boss.

2) Be patient, persistent and repetitive. Use a firm steady voice and remain calm. Try training your new friend in 10-15 minute sessions 5-6 times a day. Be in tune with your dogs mood this will make training easier for both you and your new best friend. Don't expect your puppy to learn everything in one day.

3) Positively reinforce by producing a treat for good behavior. Also affirmative bad behavior additonally it happens not after. Let your new puppy appreciate the present you are in control of the Times they value most like their toys and treats.

There is no other situation at which patience with your puppy should be as important as the first a large number of weeks in your home. Proper dog training may take time, am able to take obedience, and a lot of care. So be sure if you are going to train a puppy dog you knew how you are doing.

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Thank you Advertlets and Congratulation on Achieving 100 Million Impressions a Month

We just want to take this opportunity to thank Advertlets for making Blogging a fun, enjoyable and rewarding experience !!! :)

....... true enough as stated in Advertlets WeBlog, we received the cheque right before Hari Raya (October 10, 2007) ..... :)

Thank you Advertlets for the extra Pocket Money During the Hari Raya Break !!!

Also, we are would like to Congratulate Advertles for Achieving more than 100 million Impressions a Month ..... wow that is a lot of TRAFFIC !!!!!

We are proud of you and proud to be a part of a Happening Network .....

Not sure, what to do with the Stickers yet ..... maybe stick it on Casey & Peanut ..... :) ??? or ..... we are open for suggestions .....

Lastly, to all Malaysian & Singaporeans Bloggers .... "advertisers + bloggers = money + happy !!!

So do sign for for Advertlets ..... :)

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"Cute" Prayers Before Stepping Into Office

This is a very "Cute" Prayer which I read from "Simple Life" . He has a well written blog which is worth reading. Do Check it out.

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Create Pets Blog Instantly With SEO & Adsense Optimized Wordpress Themes

We have heard so much good things about Wordpress lately ... its flexibility, plenty of widgets, and its powerful offline capabilities etc..... So, we have done some research online for the Best SEO and Adsense Optimized Theme for our blog and we came across this .......

Came across something interesting today! Found out that Gobala Krishnan had just launched Volume 1 of his "Instant Wordpress Themes", and you can get 7 beautifully designed Wordpress themes for just $1 each.

According to Gobala, these themes are "plug-in-profit" themes, which means all you need to do is insert your Adsense ID and Clickbank ID, and you're in the money making zone.

We just got our copy, and it looks great! Click here to check it out.

So now, the challenge will be to make the switch from Blogger to Wordpress ..... hmmmm what do you think ? should we ..... ?? :)

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