Thanks to all of you out there who are so diligently helping to spread the word about this line of products we're getting the media attention needed to make change happen. Chai is doing well now, more than six months after his injury, I'm finally able to say. Here is the latest coverage in the saga with Four Paws.

Please watch the video clip that aired on NYC 9 News Feb. 8th 2009 titled: Dangerous Dog Toy


copy /paste:

www.my9tv.com

Recall?

It appears that many people believe that Four Paws has issued a recall of the Pimple Ball as well as other products within the Pimple series. While I do believe it to be a great start, I have not seen any official notification of said recall on the CSPC website which is where all recalls would be posted. With an estimated 500,000+ pimple balls and who knows how many other pimple series products out there in peoples home and in the mouths of dogs, it is my opinion that Four Paws has not taken enough steps to ensure that
unsuspecting dogs and their owners are warned of the potential impending damage caused by these toys. As of this point, unless one would have some reason to visit the Four Paws website you would never know about the dangers of this product. I’ve contacted most of the major media outlets and will be continuing to spread the word about this product wherever I am able. I’m inviting everyone to listen in Saturday the 6th at 2:15 EST when I’ll be talking along with my attorney Derek Smith about this blog, so please come to www.LVRocks.Com and click on the listen-now button to hear us live and to join the chat room as well. The show will be available as a podcast a little later this month.

update...

First, let me say how much appreciation that I have for the compassion shown to us on the part of people around the world who have helped spread the word about this. Chai is making a great deal of progress already, In the past eight weeks since his homecoming we've been working diligently together. He's now drinking ( I added a little Gatorade to his water to entice him to try) on his own and the eating regime has gone from about 90 min to about 15. He's no longer in pain, however, the major challenges lie in the day to day activities like staying cool during walks and keeping him clean. We are still working out ways to progress together.

Secondly, I would like to clarify, that I am in no way anti- business, in fact the reason that this just posted last week is because immediately following Chai's return home, Four Paws was contacted by me without response. It was only when a friend in high places made contact on my behalf that I finally did get a response. It was my full intention to allow this company to be the heroes that they could have been had they only made the right choices. Four Paws chose instead to immediately forwarded all my correspondence to their Insurance company. I was contacted by their Insurance company and was told that it would be two weeks before I would be hearing from them as they needed to ascertain whether there was liability on their part. After weeks with no reply I finally called them myself and was then given their "offer". At that time I was told that this has NEVER happened in the past. It was my directive to them that this product needed to be recalled. I told them of my intentions to publicly expose them if they do not making the appropriate changes to their product. I then gave them two more days to reconsider their position. I am very saddened that I've had to resort to the measures taken to this point but when a business chooses not to do the ethically responsible thing, we as stewards for those that rely on us to protect and care for them must take action. .

Just before writing this latest post I visited their website and typed recall into their own search window, there is not one mention of the potential danger or mention of recall to those who already own one of those 500,000 balls already out there.

At this point I have absolutely no reason to believe anyone within a company that will boldly lie to my face. I will see them in court.

Oh, no you didn't.......!!

Dear zbk57

First off, let me express my deepest heart felt sorrow over the loss of Cole, I think daily about how lucky I am that I still have chai in my life and about how much he's teaching me. I couldn't imagine how you must have felt. I'm so sorry

Secondly, I have chosen to reject four paws offer due to the following post that arrived over last night and ask ANYONE with similar situations to contact me. We need to find out if this a repeating pattern of indifference or just complete negligence.

zbk57 said...
A friend just forwarded your blog to me. It was with shock and horror that I read about Chai's experience.
My dog Cole was injured in exactly the same way in July of 2005. It was with the very same Four Paws ball.
After phone calls and letters to the company I was assured the ball design would be changed. I have copies of what I sent to them. I was told several times this was just a freak accident and I agreed but still asked they change the design so that no other dog would suffer. I hope they did not tell you this had never happened before because I can assure you THEY KNEW about the problem in 2005!
Now to see that they did not respond and did not make changes and other dogs suffered needlessly makes me very sad. These balls are not sold in any stores near me, so I was not able to check to see if they had modified the design.
My Coley boy died as a result of his injuries. He was a 5 year old bouncy beautiful lab mix that wagged his tail up till the very end when we let him cross the rainbow bridge due to the horrendous injury to his tongue.
Please write to me at onedogmatters@comcast.net if you would like more info about my interaction with this company.

I am SO SORRY I did not fight harder and took them at their word.

August 21, 2008 7:54 PM



I will be in contact with you.....

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.


(This is video of Chai showing the pain level that he had for the first three days despite being on heavy doses of pain medication)

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