Class action complaint filed against Nestle-Purina & Walmart over deadly Waggin’ Train Dog Treats
Cleopatra v. Purina
A class action lawsuit was filed today against Nestle-Purina maker of Waggin’ Train dog treats by a pet parent who says the treats killed his Pomeranian dog, Cleopatra. Cleopatra became sick only three days after being fed the treats and she died 11 days later of kidney failure.
Dennis Adkins filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Illinois against the Waggin’ Train brand – a subsidiary of Nestle-Purina – and Wal-Mart where he bought the treats.
He says he began giving his 9-year-old Pomeranian, Cleopatra, Yam Good treats a few weeks ago. The treats are made from yams wrapped in chicken jerky, and are manufactured in China, the lawsuit said.
A report from WLS Chicago explains:
Dog owner files class-action suit claiming treats killed pup
April 19, 2012
CHICAGO (WLS) – An Illinois dog owner who claims tainted treats killed his Pomeranian filed a $5 million class-action lawsuit Wednesday against pet food maker Nestle Purina.
Dennis Adkins filed the suit in federal court against the Waggin’ Train brand, its parent company Nestle Purina and Walmart, where he bought the treats this March.
Adkins claims he bought the “Yam Good” dog treats — made of yams wrapped in chicken jerky, and made in China — because the package boasted they were “just wholesome goodness” and “what nature intended.”
But after three days of feeding them to his 9-year-old Pomeranian Cleopatra the dog became sick, the suit said. It died of kidney failure 11 days later, on March 26.
Adkins claims he didn’t give the dog more than the recommended one treat per day, and that his other dog, 9-year-old Pharaoh, didn’t eat the treats and didn’t get sick.
Last November, the Food and Drug Administration warned that some pet owners and veterinarians reported dogs who ate chicken jerky treats made in China became ill, some with kidney failure, and that some died. None of the products were recalled, and no specific brands were mentioned in the FDA warning.
Keith Schopp, a spokesman for Nestle Purina and Waggin’ Train, says the Waggin’ Train products are safe to feed as directed. He declined to comment on the pending litigation.
A Walmart spokesman was not available to comment on the suit Wednesday night.
The seven-count suit claims breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, negligence, product liability and failure to warn. The suit claims the class of potential defendants is at least 100 consumers nation-wide, and that the potential amount of damages exceeds $5 million.
SOURCE: WLS 890AM Chicago
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111 Comments
Jill
Walmart brand GOLDEN REWARDS made my dog deathly ill. He was rushed to the ER and given fluids and anti nausea under his skin.
I purchased the duck jerky over sweet potatoes and a couple days into giving him pieces he had gelatin like diarrhea, he was lethargic and he felt hot. He stopped eating and could not pee much at all. 2 days after diarrhea began he started to actually projectile vomit basically bile and clear foamy white phlegm.
This happened often and frequently enough for a day and half tgat I rushed him to ER veterinary hospital. I forgot about the new treats I had been giving him in the midst of fearing I was losing my heart, my dig! . The next day I saw the bag on top of the refrigerator, grabbed it and sure as S said product of CHINA! Distributed in a USA state, but in small words PRODUCT OF CHINA!! Now had I known it would not have made it in my home let alone in my dogs mouth!!! I contacted the number on the back of the bag to inform them of what has happened, and asked if other dogs have had similar issues. To my surprise the woman said “not recently, but in past smaller dogs have” I was shocked!! I also was told to return bag to Walmart and file a claim report tgat would be awaiting me. Well I did return the bag, refused a refund. Filed out an incident report as instructed by the LP as everyone else I spoke with was not aware, never received the info I was told would be awaiting me, given a “claim number” that was irrelevant etc etc.
I then proceeded to google Golden Rewards dog treats and to my HORRIR read about all the heartbreaking stories of other loosing their beloved dogs and the illness others too have gone thru.
Shame on Walmart for not removing these off the shelves and having the brand Golden Rewards produced FOR WALMART under the name Golden Rewards, it’s Walmarts brand!!
Now the claims adjuster has be corresponding with someone in CHINA.
I sent in my just under 600.00 vet bill and all I go requested.
Now I can’t get in contact with them or the adjuster through phone or email.
Before returning the bag of golden rewards I kept one of the deadly treats for testing or whatever.
Where / how do I get this tested to reveal the poison in side of it!
Never will my boy ever be given a store bought treat ever!
Rose
My blue Pit passed away this morning. He was perfectly healthy until 2 days ago. I had given him Alpo T Bone dog treats for only a few days. Has anyone else had problems with these dog treats?
Shannon Eavenson
My Boxer died from a Busy Bone last year. She threw up two plastic caps that I believe are injection plastic tips from the process. I sent one to Purina and kept one. They never responded. RIP Roxy..
dee arrowood
Purina’s Beneful destroyed my dogs digestive system.. I had to put him on a bland diet & he still has some flare up’s that make him miserable.. I want a piece of Purina’s ass for poisoning my dog!!!!!! He just had another flare up this weekend & didn’t sleep at all.. How can I join in on this law suit???