The EPA has released a statement with regards to Hartz flea products. Myself and the members of FOAH, (Feline Owner Against Hartz) are taking issue with the measures the EPA is requiring of Hartz. There is a 30-day public comment period, in which the EPA will take into consideration comments from the public regarding this. We are asking that you send a letter to the EPA telling them you find these requirements this to be unsatisfactory and insufficient in scope and time frame.

Your letters, emails and or phone calls should go to
Susan B. Hazen, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA
7101M US EPA Headquarters Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. Washington, DC 20460
202-564-2910
hazen.susan@epa.gov

Eryn W. Witcher 1701A,
US EPA Headquarters Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.
Washington, DC 20460
202-564-9828
witcher.eryn@epa.gov

EPA: Michele Knorr, 2333A,
US EPA Headquarters, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20460,
.knorr.michele@epa.gov
202-564-563

The EPA’s New Release- Located at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/flea-tick-drops.htm

At EPA’s insistence, Hartz Mountain Corp. has agreed to cancel uses of several flea and tick products that may be associated with a range of adverse reactions, including hair loss, salivation, tremors, and numerous deaths in cats and kittens. In the short term, the agreement calls for new labeling of the products. The new labeling will state that the products of concern are not to be used on the most vulnerable animals, including cats and kittens that weigh less than 6 pounds, cats older than 13 years, or kittens less than 5 months old.
Through this agreement, Hartz will voluntarily stop all new production of these products by September 30, 2005 and will not sell or distribute any affected product after December 31, 2005. The company has agreed to a prohibition on sales down to the retail level by March 31, 2006.

Thank you for your help!

Regards,
Dani, founder of FOAH
AgainstHartz@yahoo.com
Gardena, CA

This is so fantastic. We won Josh, we beat Hartz!!!!!!!!!

AP New Jersey
——————————————————————————–

Hartz Mountain to discontinue products for cats in 2006

June 3, 2005, 8:05 PM EDT

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Pet care products company Hartz Mountain Corp. said Friday it would discontinue two over-the-counter topical flea and tick products for cats next spring, a move prompted by concerns over the number of adverse reactions suffered by the pets.

The Hartz Advanced Care 4 in 1 Flea and Tick Drops Plus for Cats and the Hartz Advanced Care 3 in 1 Flea and Tick Drops for Cats will still be sold in retail outlets through March 31, 2006, when the company will launch a new product for cats.

No other Hartz Mountain flea and tick products are affected by the voluntary cancellation, which came about after discussions with the Environmental Protection Agency. The Secaucus-based firm also said it had signed an agreement with the agency to cancel the product registrations for the advanced care topical cat products.

Signs of individual animal sensitivity have included skin irritation, hair loss at the application site, salivation and tremors. If signs of sensitivity occur, pet owners should bathe their cat with mild soap, rinse with large amounts of water and consult a veterinarian immediately.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=48358
EPA: Hartz to Re-label and Cancel Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens

6/3/2005 6:54:00 PM

——————————————————————————–

To: National Desk, Environment Reporter

Contact: Eryn Witcher of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 202-436-2215 or witcher.eryn@epa.gov

WASHINGTON, June 3 /U.S. Newswire/ — At EPA’s insistence, Hartz Mountain Corp. has agreed to cancel uses of several flea and tick products that may be associated with a range of adverse reactions, including hair loss, salivation, tremors and numerous deaths in cats and kittens. The common pet product brand names which are involved in this action include: Hartz Advanced Care 4 in 1 Flea & Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens; Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops(Plus) for Cats and Kittens; Hartz Advanced Care 3 in 1 Flea & Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens; and Hartz Advanced Care Once-A-Month Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens.

In the short term, the agreement calls for immediate relabeling of the products. The new labeling will state that the products of concern are not to be used on the most vulnerable animals, including cats and kittens that weigh less than 6 pounds, cats older than 13 years, or kittens less than 5 months old.

Hartz will stop all new production of the cat and kitten products by September 30, 2005, and not sell or distribute any affected product after December 31, 2005. The measures announced today will help ensure pets are protected. Pet owners should pay close attention to new labels and exercise good judgment when choosing pet products.

“EPA is taking this action because there are safety concerns with these products,” said Susan B. Hazen, principal deputy assistant administrator at EPA. “Pet owners should be alerted to these concerns, and may choose to transition to alternative products. We take seriously our obligation to ensure that pesticide products, when used as labeled, are safe.”

The company agreed to a prohibition on any remaining retail sales by March 31, 2006. This orderly transition allows consumers and distributors to move to alternatives flea and tick products and will be strictly monitored. Hartz will also be notifying their distributors and retailers of the changes in order to ensure a workable phaseout.

As with any pesticide product, all label directions and precautions should be carefully followed to ensure the product is used correctly. It is prudent to follow the new restrictions for all products, including existing stocks.

After a public 30-day comment period, EPA intends to issue a cancellation order and an amended registration, which will be effective by October 31, 2005. For further information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/flea-tick-drops.htm

Hartz to Relabel and Cancel Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens
Contact: Eryn Witcher, 202-436-2215/ witcher.eryn@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C.– June 3, 2005) At EPA’s insistence, Hartz Mountain Corp. has agreed to cancel uses of several flea and tick products that may be associated with a range of adverse reactions, including hair loss, salivation, tremors and numerous deaths in cats and kittens. The common pet product brand names which are involved in this action include: Hartz Advanced Care 4 in 1 Flea & Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens; Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus+ for Cats and Kittens; Hartz Advanced Care 3 in 1 Flea & Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens; and Hartz Advanced Care Once-A-Month Flea and Tick Drops for Cats and Kittens.

In the short term, the agreement calls for immediate relabeling of the products. The new labeling will state that the products of concern are not to be used on the most vulnerable animals, including cats and kittens that weigh less than 6 pounds, cats older than 13 years, or kittens less than 5 months old.

Hartz will stop all new production of the cat and kitten products by September 30, 2005, and not sell or distribute any affected product after December 31, 2005. The measures announced today will help ensure pets are protected. Pet owners should pay close attention to new labels and exercise good judgment when choosing pet products.

“EPA is taking this action because there are safety concerns with these products,” said Susan B. Hazen, principal deputy assistant administrator at EPA. “Pet owners should be alerted to these concerns, and may choose to transition to alternative products. We take seriously our obligation to ensure that pesticide products, when used as labeled, are safe.”

The company agreed to a prohibition on any remaining retail sales by March 31, 2006. This orderly transition allows consumers and distributors to move to alternatives flea and tick products and will be strictly monitored. Hartz will also be notifying their distributors and retailers of the changes in order to ensure a workable phaseout.

As with any pesticide product, all label directions and precautions should be carefully followed to ensure the product is used correctly. It is prudent to follow the new restrictions for all products, including existing stocks.

After a public 30-day comment period, EPA intends to issue a cancellation order and an amended registration, which will be effective by October 31, 2005. For further information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/flea-tick-drops.htm

R098

Release date:06/03/2005

This is part vent, brutely honest and not for the faint of heart. Listen to these words I know what I am talking about. I have been fighting Hartz since 2001.
The cat victim is damaged but is living, for which I’m more than thankful for. Had he died I could have never been able to handle the guilt.

Now let me explain the big picture here. From the case numbers from Hartz and the Poision Control Center( PCC), I’m reasonably certain that there are well over 30,000 Hartz victims out there. That is a lot people.

Unfortunately, once your victimized,even if your pet dies, you may write some letters maybe make some phone calls, maybe join my Against Hartz group. You might get your Vet expenses back, but only if your pet lives. If Hartz offers to have an autopsy done and pay for it, it will be done at a Vet school Hartz donates millions to each year. The results WILL BE INCONCLUSIVVE! You will not get the remains back either.

By the way Sumitomo bought Hartz for 365 million dollars last year. I’d say Hartz is making unbelievable profits by injuring and killing our animal companions. Because Hartz flea products are PESTISIDES NOT DRUGS the EPA is how Hartz got to sell this poision to us.

Hartz donates major bucks to all the right places, vet schools, AKC, CFA you name it if it has to do with animals they have donated to it. Unfortunately $$$$ means so much to the people in charge to these major animal organizations, that they won’t say Hartz kills, but no breeder dog or cat I or anyone I know would ever use Hartz flea products.

I want everyone who reads this to say ” THANK YOU, JOSH! He’s the sole reason this web site is here and continues to be here to try an inform people before it’s to late about this horrible situation that kills and injures thousands of animals.

AgainstHartz which is one of my ways to do something to try to get this stopped isn’t a .com or .org So it’s harder to find on the net. Anytime I have asked anything of Josh regarding any stop Hartz project, he’s bent over backwards to help. He has my total respect and not many people do.

Facts from the poor petition that still doesn’t have enough signatures to do anygood to send, figuring nothing under 10,000 will even get noticed The petition was set up orginally by a person no longer involed in so,. rather than a manditory signature/ address, it has a place for comments if you want to make them. I read all of them and have collected these stats from those comment. I think it’s at 7298
now.
Out of the 7175 signatures people have stated that :
1111 cats have required ER vet treatment to save thier lives,
224 cats have died,
99 dogs have required ER vet treatment,
50 dogs have died,

28 News stories
Amount for Vet costs for 63 victims $ 35,801.50 ( from 63 people)

Ok I did a news story in Los Angeles, I was in the only class action filed against Hartz, which turned out to be a joke. News stations who do stories Hartz slaps law suits on. Hartz has no moral integrity Hartz is evil because they say they care about animals, they do not. They have the $$$ to basicly do what ever they want to without any justice or control. No one person is going to be able to stop this I don’t think Bush could. But those 30,000 victims alot of whom come here cry out thier stories and don’t even leave a contact source, if magically they all stayed angry enough about this and all got together they may just be able to get this poisionoff the shelves. If not that they could save a ot of animals and thier owners from the fate far, far to many of us have had to deal with.

Get angry about this a major player is hurting and killing animals you love and costing you thousands of dollars, sometimesin vane to try to save your animals. Stray mad about this , don’t let this slide. Every time you think ” oh well I can’t doing anything, it’s hopeless , I don’t have the time”. You go back and read these pages or go to my site. I have some from kids who found thier animals having seziures or worse dead. Then you get yourself mad and you keep writing letters, and handing people flyers, making phone calls. You do something to anything you can. Tell people you see buying this stuff how dangerous it is. Save maybe just one animal and I promise you’ll feel a bite better about yourself and we will be a little bite closer to bringing Hartz down! Please don’t give up, we need you to do this and this has to happen. You want a a talk email me at any address below Put Hartz in the subject I’ll reply

AGAINSTHARTZ@yahoo.com, NEMESIS1IM@yahoo.com

Hi —

My name’s Brenda Flanagan. I’m a reporter for the investigative unit
at UPN-9 TVNews…located in the North Jersey/NYC Metro area. I am looking
for local pet owners who’ll agree to be interviewed about their experience
with Hartz flea drops. I have also obtained the videotape of affected cats
– shot by an Arkansas vet (Dr. Rose) who runs a cat clinic. Please please
get in touch with me! My number here at work is 201-330-2288…cell is
609-203-5073.

Thanks – Brenda Flanagan (PS – I have six cats — Peter, Bushy, Sing,
Marlon Brando, Rufus Rumpuscat, and Ophelia the Smidgen)

This correspondence was sent by Dani, my colleague in this anti-Hartz crusade.

If you haven’t already, please visit Dani’s Against Hartz website.

Hi Jess,

I don’t think your aware of the fact that Hartz is paying the Vets at the ASPCA’s Poson control center to deal with all Hartz related called. That is a major conflict of interests. FOAH has members who were also given the same line about send us your dead cat for an autopsy. The results maybe liver failure, neurological problems, even an enlarged heart, but they will find that Hartz flea products had nothing to do with the death. It’s happened at least 5 times that I personal know of. Also they will not return the remains of your cat to you. I’m sure they forgot to mention that.
Hartz given millions of dollars to Vet schools too. and take three guesses where the autopsy on your cat will be done. Right a Vet at one of Hartz well bought and paid for vet schools. The deck has been very well stacked in Hartz favor by Hartz. His professional opinion will have changed by the time the autopsy results are back. Sorry for being so aburpt with you, but people have to wake up and see the light Hartz is causing serious injury and death to thousand of animals a year and they have absolutely no intention of stopping.
We need Hartz victims to join the quilt projects and follow the advice for who you need to report this to. All that info can be found at www.geocities.com/againsthartz/
Down with Hartz in 2005
To contact me email AgainstHartz@yahoo.com

Jess writes:

After seeing my vet, she contacted the Animal Posion Control Center “ASPCA” and the Better Business Bureau of PA. I have recieved a number of phonecalls including one from Hartz themselves. It first was a message on my machine, the woman was so sorry about my lose…blah.blah,blah.. and she left her phone number. I called her back, she again apologized and was trying to be sympathic, over and over… she finally said she was so sorry to hear about my dog!!! Can you believe it.. I was like “it was my cat that passed away!” She studdered and was like I am so sorry, we hear 100′s of cases a day…..proves a point.. 100′s of cases a day! Anyway, I then contacted Animal Poision Control and spoke to a very wonderful vet. he contacted Hartz and they are paying to have Molson looked at and examined. He told me his professinal opinion is that HARTZ was defintly the “killer” for my cat. So I am sending his corpse on Monday and only time will tell! I will not stop untill I have answers— sincerely DETERMINED!

Jill Richardson, DVM
Associate Director
Consumer Relations and Technical Services

FYI:
Dr. Jill Richardson
Associate Director Consumer Relations & Technical Services
The Hartz Mountain Corporation
ph: 201-271-4800, ext. 7985
fax: 201-271-1206
voicemail: 800-999-3000 (BOX 7985)
email: jrichardson@hartz.com

We are a group devoted to stopping Hartz from hurting animals with their flea products. Please join us in honoring the thousands of pets who have been injured or killed by Hartz products. We are inviting you to become part of a very special project. We are creating a Hartz Victims Memorial quilt, a real quilt and a cyber quilt for online. The quilt maybe viewed at http://www.geocities.com/hartzquilt/

We are hoping to display the real quilt at a number of different venues including a museum. We also hope to have the press present for the unveiling of the real quilt.
It is our hope that in doing this we will be raising public awareness to the dangerous of using Hartz flea products and gain support for our movement.

If you have an animal that has been victimized by Hartz and would like to have a photo included on our ‘cyber quilt’ we’ll be happy to include you.

Please include the following information -
Pets name
Your State
If your pet went to the Rainbow Bridge due to Hartz also include the date
Your name
Your email address, ( so we can notify you when the photo has been added).

If you would like to also have a photo square on the real quilt please go to the web site and click on ‘Real Quilt,’ at the bottom of the page. That will provide you with the information about the real quilt photo squares and a confirmation form you can send if you decide you want to participate in the project.

We hope you’ll join us in the fight against Hartz.

Sincerely,
Feline Owners Against Hartz
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FelineOwnersAgainstHartz/
Against Hartz at http://www.geocities.com/againsthartz/
Hartz Victims Quilt Project http://www.geocities.com/hartzquilt/
The Petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/hartz/petition.html
Hartz Victims at http://www.hartzvictims.org
Against Hartz Store Against Hartz Shop http://www.cafeshops.com/againsthartz

6/18/2004, 11:27 a.m. ET
The Associated Press
SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) — Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo will purchase pet product producer Hartz Mountain Corp. for $365 million, the companies announced.
The deal is to close next week.Secaucus-based Hartz Mountain was started by German immigrant Max Stern in the 1920s. His family sold it to investment group J.W. Childs Associates LP in 2000.The Stern family continues to operate Hartz Mountain Industries, a real estate and property development company in Secaucus.The pet products company has six manufacturing plants in the United States and Brazil and employs 2,100 workers worldwide, including 850 in New Jersey. It makes toys, flea and tick treatments and grooming supplies for pets, as well as edible treats for birds and other small animals.Hartz Mountain had net sales of $319 million last year, according to Sumitomo, which reported sales of $4.1 billion in 2003.Sumitomo said Thursday it will seek to increase Hartz sales to $500 million within the five years by increasing its products.Sumitomo’s holdings include chemical plants, mining interests and financial services.Sumitomo said it “decided to acquire Hartz in order to make inroads to (the) steadily growing U.S. companion animal industry,” which it estimated at $8 billion.•__On the Net:

To Contact Sumitomo
http://www.sumitomocorp.com/contact.html
Please do contact them and protest Hartz flea products.

To sign the petition and please do we need as many signatures as we can get go to
http://www.petitiononline.com/hartz/petition.html

For more info www.geocities.com/againsthartz

Regards,
Dani Founder FOAH
Contact at NEMESIS1IM@aol.com

The AKC Veterinary Outreach Program unites the world of purebred dogs with the veterinary community through educational initiatives aimed at veterinarians, veterinary students and veterinary technicians. The program provides resources in support of veterinary students, practitioners and researchers, providing a forum for the exchange of information about canine health and welfare, as well as scholarships for future practitioners and researchers.

http://www.dmnews.com/cgi-bin/artprevbot.cgi?article_id=28688
DMNews.com
Hartz’s Plan for the Pet Fan
June 18, 2004
By: Mickey Alam Khan
Senior Editor
mickey@dmnews.com

Hartz Mountain Corp., the world’s leading maker of pet-care products, is concluding a $10 million, two-year rebranding effort with an ad campaign that partly spoofs television’s current reality makeover craze. The direct response TV component of an effort that includes print and the Web site shows pets getting the ultimate makeover using an array of Hartz products. Consumers are encouraged to call or go online for free sample packs as well as register for Hartz news and offers. “This is part of a total brand makeover for Hartz — products, packaging and the actual customer advertising,” said Steve Thibodeau, president of Hartz direct agency dotglu, New York. “They’re rebuilding the brand inside out. They felt this is the right time to go to market. They’re the No. 1 player, and they own so many categories on the shelf space. But what’s happening is that small companies are stealing mind share.” The 60-second infomercial on national cable and some local channels is a key foot soldier
in influencing consumer attitudes. It shows a team of hosts arriving at a couple’s house. The pets are ragged and disheveled. After a quick review, the pets are taken to a studio and groomed. They are then dropped back in a limo. Products used in that ad include Hartz Pet Shoppe Living Botanicals shampoos, Hartz Dental Breath-Strips and Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus. The spot urges viewers to call a toll-free number for a free product sample pack worth $20 to $25. They also can visit the site at www.hartz.com. The sample pack, which also contains literature and coupons for store redemption, itself is a fluorescent orange case with a zipper. It looks like a toiletries bag and contains products for dogs, cats, birds, fish or reptiles, whatever the pet owner requests. The bag bears this line: “Fabulous Pet Makeover at Home.” “The goal is getting packages into people’s hands and getting names in the database so that we can start up a relationship marketing program,”
Thibodeau said. Hartz.com supports that effort. No longer cluttered, the site zeroes in on the ties between pets and their owners with images that reinforce health and joy. “We need to inspire these consumers through all of the imagery and content, engage them and ultimately motivate them to buy these products,” Thibodeau said. The site provides information and offers but does not sell products. Visitors can sign up for coupons and e-mail newsletters. Hartz, Secaucus, NJ, claims a sizable database but does not disclose the numbers. Preceding the TV and online efforts is a print campaign in Dog Fancy, Dog World and Cat Fancy magazines running since April. Created by dotglu sister agency kirshenbaum bond + partners, New York, the ads promote Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea and Tick Drops Plus. Print discusses products and benefits. There are also trade media and promotions. Dotglu is sure the DRTV spot will work, more so in a TV environment rife with popular makeover shows like “Queer
Eye for the Straight Guy,” “Trading Spaces,” “While You Were Out” and “Extreme Makeover.” Pet owners may appreciate the humor in the sell. “No one owns the idea of transformation,” Thibodeau said. “The strategy here is, if you were a pet, you would choose Hartz — that’s how pet owners internalize their relationship with their pets.”

I was surfing around this am and found this little piece of info. You may want to pass it on to friends and family.

http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/newsexpress/x040401a.asp

EPA orders retailers to stop sales of counterfeit flea and tick products for pets.

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/petproduct.htm

With summer coming on quickly, ( it’s been in the high 80′s here) we really need to step up our efforts towards informing the public about Hartz flea products. Our group Feline Owners Against Hattz has a variety of flyers you can
down load and leave on Hartz displays in stores. As long as you don’t mess with the products I am pretty sure the worst that could happen is the store might ask you to leave. You could also take the flyers to your Vets, pet stores, bulletin boards in local stores. Send or take a few to animal control too. If you go to any cat or pet shows take some with you.

You can join our group at Yahoo! Groups : FelineOwnersAgainstHartz
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FelineOwnersAgainstHartz
or feel free to email me if you’d like a flyer and I’ll send you a down loaded one. You can reach me at NEMESIS1IM@aol.com ( or at yahoo.com)

If you’d like to check out our website, which is under going some changes currently the url is
www.geocities.com/againsthartz

Just get on telling everyone about Hartz and sign the petition if you haven’t already.

Thank you