First, if your dog has a Pimple Ball With Bell (what an icky name!), take it back wherever you bought it and ask them to refund your money for the dangerous thing, and take the rest off the shelves.
After reading about the injuries at least four dogs have experienced due to the absolute refusal of Four Paws Products Ltd. to modify or recall their product after being informed of these problems. One dog had to be euthanized.
The company and its insurer (I wish I knew their name) have been irresponsible, at the very least.
Please talk to pet stores in your area about removing the “pimple ball with bell” from their shelves. Warn other dog owners about the problem. Consider talking to your vet, so he or she can do the same.
Consider writing to Four Paws, as well. E-mail isn’t nearly as effective as a mailed or faxed letter, or even a (polite!) phone call.
I didn’t find the name of any executives on their website but will add that after I try calling tomorrow. Here’s the mail and phone information:
50 Wireless Blvd.
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone: (631) 434-1100
Fax: (631) 434-1183
Their parent company is Central Garden & Pet Company. The president of the “Pet Group” is James V. Heim
President of Pet Group
1340 Treat Boulevard, Suite 600
Walnut Creek, California 94597
Phone: (925) 948-4000
I haven’t found a fax number. Yet.
I called Four Paws to voice my concerns about the pimple ball. I was surprised they actually had a live person answering the phone; you don’t get that too often these days. It was explained to me that they are doing everything a company can do to resolve the pimple ball issue, and I believe them. They offered to pay the vet bills and then some. They have taken swift action to stop shipping and recall ALL the toys, not just the defective ones, from retailers and distributors nationwide- at their expense of course. They are taking full responsibility and showing care and consideration for all of their customers. The people at Four Paws can’t change what happened but it seems to me that they are doing what they can to prevent it from happening in the future. My doggies and I will continue to support Four Paws Products!
Thanks for the update. It’s too bad they didn’t do that after they were notified of the first injuries, as action then could have prevented the later ones. Chai’s human declined their offer because it did not include a recall, and she wanted to be sure that other dogs weren’t injured as Chai was.
Swift action? Not! A dog died in 2005 after the same thing happened, and Four Paws promised the dog’s owner then that the toy would be redesigned – it wasn’t.
Four Paws has sent three different canned response letters to people who have emailed them – they have to keep changing them as their lies and cover-ups are exposed, thanks to the power of the Internet.
They’ve also now added two more products to the recall. We have to keep the heat on them – I don’t think they’ll do anything without pressure.