Hartz wants me to “cease and desist”

Here’s a recent news piece from Los Angeles that, I’m told, also received a similar letter from Hartz.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Pet_Products_Concern.html

Good for you, posting that here. Nothing like a little more publicity, especially since they are threatening you simply for telling it like it is.

You know I don’t always agree with you — but when I do, I do, and I certainly appreciate you speaking out about this. I hope more people become aware of the dangers of these, and other, over the counter remedies.

The story from ABC news in Los Angeles posted by Dr. Patty Khuly above. At the end of that report there is a response from Hartz. One of the cases they mention is mine. (supplemental information 2 – Case of Pam Russell). I lost two cats. Hartz never ONCE contacted me directly. The two statements I have read (the one above & a local story) that concern my animals would lead one to believe I had put another product on my cats prior to the Hartz Spot On or that they came into contact with a toxin while outside. Both of which are not true.

This company is HUGE and has the money to fight ever allegation thrown at them. They will stop at nothing to keep the consumer quiet. In the meantime I lost two cats and was stuck with an $800 vet bill but I have not been quiet that is for sure and I will continue to voice my “opinion” until these products are pulled from shelves.

Thank you all for speaking the truth. Hartz Mountain has a deplorable animal safety record over the years and they also have a corporate behavior of deception, intimidation and misleading the public. Their purchase by Sumitomo Chemical of Japan in 2004 did nothing to improve their corporate culture of denial, deception and intimidation. The list of examples is breathtaking: Their “Blockade” product was pulled from the market after one year not only because of an extraordinary number of pet injuries and deaths, but also several human deaths. Hartz reintroduced it later and again experienced an appalling number of animal injuries and deaths. Hartz was cited and fined for not promptly and accurately reporting consumer complaints of adverse incidents to the EPA as they are required to do by federal law. They have been forced to make numerous labeling revisions because of an unacceptable number of complaints and, in 2005, the EPA finally took significant action by issuing a Cancellation Order terminating their cat and kitten flea and tick products forcing Hartz to reformulate those products. They attempt intimidation through legal tactics combined with obfuscation of the facts in dealing with consumer and media awareness, i.e., their legal intimidation with Beyond Pesticides, the Miami Herald, The Center for Public Integrity, Dr. Patty Khuly, NBC, private citizens and others. They have created a website called, “The Truth About Hartz”, which contains false information, some of which they were forced to modify because of media awareness and public embarrassment of their deception regarding the EPA’s Public Advisory of flea and tick products and the manufacturers–which includes Hartz–under scrutiny. This site also contains an “independent study” that was conducted by the former professor of Hartz’s lead veterinarian and manager of Scientific Affairs while she attended college. After graduating and also receiving her PhD. she happened to serve on the board of directors of an organization this professor chaired…she also made significant financial contributions to this organization, “Friends of Animal Sciences”, according to the organizations newsletter. Later Hartz retained this professor to conduct this so-called “independent study”. How many responsible companies feel compelled to run a “truth” campaign to influence public opinion? Hartz has sent false and defamatory information about private citizens to the news media and to large retail companies to obfuscate the truth, personally diminish individuals and promote the “safety and efficacy” of their products. The list goes on, but the real “truth” about Hartz is their documented history of safety problems and their reprehensible behavior as a large corporation. It’s unbelievable they’ve gotten away with it for so long.

Dear Arlaine,

Thanks for your post. I will e-mail you and see if we can spend some time together. I have been contacted by a large, well-known law firm in Los Angeles that has been deeply troubled about these products and manufacturers–particularly Hartz, but the others as well–for quite some time. Although the legal avenue has never been my objective (I’ve attempted to resolve my concerns directly with Hartz Mountain outside of legal actions) Hartz recently attempted to intimidate me through their own senior legal counsel. This action by Hartz–which is a behavioral pattern over the years–has had the opposite effect intended.

Thanks again for your interest and for providing your contact information–I will be in touch.

I just resd about the milk replacer being dangerous for kittens, unfortunately too late for 2 kittens I am nursing. The formula made them extremely ill, vomiting, fluidy, and lethargic. One finally came through with a lot of tlc, the other one is still barely hanging on. My question is, how can they get away with this? I know they are a big corporation, like Walmart, who unfortunately sell this poison. Not that they care, they also were selling the poisonous pet food with the melamine from China. We as pet lovers and rescuers have to find a way to have these products removed from shelves, and hold the sellers accountable. Boycott the stores, do a huge letter writing campaign, go all the way to Washington if necessary. Too many innocent animals have died because of the greed and irresponsibility of these charlatans.