Heather O
USA#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, October 22, 2009
I feel for you but how is this PetSmart's fault? It is not the merchandiser who is responsible for posting these risks, but the manufacturer of the product. When I used to work there, I ALWAYS told customers about the risks and issues with rawhide, and suggested other similar products they can buy. I was blown off at least half the time, as others have mentioned. A written warning on the package isn't going to change anything for anyone else.
And they choking hazard is only part of it, since most dogs generally don't try to swallow things they can't. It's intestinal blockage that is the real issue. Rawhide does NOT break down during digestion since it is essentially dried leather.even if they get it down their throats, it may not pass through. If you catch it early enough, it is a VERY invasive surgery that can range into the thousands.
Having a dog and a baby are very similar. Just like you wouldn't give your child a new toy, no matter how popular, without research (or at least I wouldn't,) do the same for your dogs.
Nari
Memphis,#3Consumer Comment
Wed, March 25, 2009
I am very sorry to hear for your loss, I would be absolutely heartbroken if this happened to me, but I thank you for posting this. I have a small dog that loves these mini Dingo bones. I noticed that they end up in a lot of pieces that I would usually have to throw out. I never even realized that it poses a choking hazard, and I agree with you that there should be some type of warning about this. The company should print a warning on the package. I won't be giving these to my dog again unless I'm supervising him and definitely won't leave them out for him whenever he wants anymore.. I just keep picturing this terrible tragedy happening with him. He is like a baby to me and I would be just devastated as I'm sure you were. Have you written to the company telling them your story? I am thinking about writing them myself to suggest a choking hazard warning on the package. It makes sense they should have one the same way they have labels for children, a lot of us think of our animals as our children too.
Nari
Memphis,#4Consumer Comment
Wed, March 25, 2009
I am very sorry to hear for your loss, I would be absolutely heartbroken if this happened to me, but I thank you for posting this. I have a small dog that loves these mini Dingo bones. I noticed that they end up in a lot of pieces that I would usually have to throw out. I never even realized that it poses a choking hazard, and I agree with you that there should be some type of warning about this. The company should print a warning on the package. I won't be giving these to my dog again unless I'm supervising him and definitely won't leave them out for him whenever he wants anymore.. I just keep picturing this terrible tragedy happening with him. He is like a baby to me and I would be just devastated as I'm sure you were. Have you written to the company telling them your story? I am thinking about writing them myself to suggest a choking hazard warning on the package. It makes sense they should have one the same way they have labels for children, a lot of us think of our animals as our children too.
Nari
Memphis,#5Consumer Comment
Wed, March 25, 2009
I am very sorry to hear for your loss, I would be absolutely heartbroken if this happened to me, but I thank you for posting this. I have a small dog that loves these mini Dingo bones. I noticed that they end up in a lot of pieces that I would usually have to throw out. I never even realized that it poses a choking hazard, and I agree with you that there should be some type of warning about this. The company should print a warning on the package. I won't be giving these to my dog again unless I'm supervising him and definitely won't leave them out for him whenever he wants anymore.. I just keep picturing this terrible tragedy happening with him. He is like a baby to me and I would be just devastated as I'm sure you were. Have you written to the company telling them your story? I am thinking about writing them myself to suggest a choking hazard warning on the package. It makes sense they should have one the same way they have labels for children, a lot of us think of our animals as our children too.
Nari
Memphis,#6Consumer Comment
Wed, March 25, 2009
I am very sorry to hear for your loss, I would be absolutely heartbroken if this happened to me, but I thank you for posting this. I have a small dog that loves these mini Dingo bones. I noticed that they end up in a lot of pieces that I would usually have to throw out. I never even realized that it poses a choking hazard, and I agree with you that there should be some type of warning about this. The company should print a warning on the package. I won't be giving these to my dog again unless I'm supervising him and definitely won't leave them out for him whenever he wants anymore.. I just keep picturing this terrible tragedy happening with him. He is like a baby to me and I would be just devastated as I'm sure you were. Have you written to the company telling them your story? I am thinking about writing them myself to suggest a choking hazard warning on the package. It makes sense they should have one the same way they have labels for children, a lot of us think of our animals as our children too.
Blahsblah2001
Copley,#7Consumer Comment
Tue, February 10, 2009
I'm sorry to hear about your dog. I'm glad that there's now another person spreading around news of the dangers. I'm not sure why, but some people, even when informed of the dangers, flat-out deny them. When I used to work in a kennel, people would check their dogs in with a rawhide chew. We'd tell them to take it home and throw it away, and they'd insist that the toy was fine because "Fido loves his rawhide, he's never had any trouble." Invariably, the rawhide toys left in our possession would become 'lost.' People just don't listen. Apparently Some of those people work in pet stores.