|
Dartmouth Woman Loses Both Pets To Poisoned Menu Cat Food |
|
|
|
Written by D.L. McCracken
|
|
Monday, 26 March 2007 |
|
Dartmouth resident Holly Slaunwhite, already in mourning over the sudden and tragic death of her six year-old cat, 'Mummie' last week is today saying goodbye to another animal companion. 'Pinkie' is an adult domesticated rat who was adopted by Ms. Slaunwhite in 2004, an unusual choice for the self-professed 26 year-old cat-person but a decision that she has never regretted.
Today Pinkie is dying and in an effort to minimize the rat's obvious suffering, Slaunwhite will have her euthanized. Less than seven days ago, Mummie the cat was suffering in the same manner. When rushed to the Vet for treatment, Slaunwhite had no idea that Mummie would not be returning home again.
Both pets are victims of poisoned pet food manufactured by Menu Foods Income Fund who on March 16, 2007 announced a massive North American-wide recall of dog and cat wet food it had manufactured between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007.
It was initially reported that at least 16 dogs and cats had had fallen ill or died from renal (kidney) failure after ingesting food items from the recall list but more animal illnesses and deaths are being reported each day throughout Canada and the United States. The ingredient reponsible for the deaths has since been identified as aminopterin a chemical used in rat poison on some countries but banned in North America. The chemical was discovered in wheat gluten exported from China and a common ingredient in pet food. Aminopterin can cause cancer, birth defects and kidney damage in dogs and cats.
Symptoms of rat poisoning in cats and dogs include sudden and extreme lethargy, vomiting, extreme thirst and loss of appetite. Cats especially become very ill, very quickly.
By the time Slaunwhite rushed her cat to the Vet, Mummie was unable to stand without falling over. It was too late for her and she was mercifully put down immediately. And today, less than a week later Pinkie, who ate the same food as the cat, is not able to stand without falling over.
Slaunwhite is devastated. Although she realizes that she is not to blame, she admonishes herself nonetheless. She has nightmares of feeding her beloved cat rat poison. Later today she will be forced to say farewell to her last animal companion. She's not sure how she will be able to cope with two losses in such a short period of time.
She is tortured by how this could have been allowed to happen. She won't be the only one asking these questions. She won't be the only one initiating law suits if for no other reason than as an outlet for her outrage and her grief.
For the first time in her life Holly Slaunwhite will go back to her apartment later today and will be greeted by stillness. Mummie is no longer there to greet her by winding her way through Slaunwhite's ankles...Pinkie won't be standing on her back legs inside her glass house squeaking for attention.
Slaunwhite, as she prepares to leave our interview tries to hide the fresh tears as she looks at me and asks..."why...?"
She won't be the only one wondering.
For more information on the recall including a list of affected cat and dog food please visit http://menufoods.com/recall/ |
