Cat deaths linked to Orijen

[GreyGhost]

Ah, they hid it, those buggers.  It's only on the Champion site, not the Orijen site:

http://www.championpetfoods.com/Australia_Consumer_Release_Dec20.pdf

I guess they think we're stupid?

Yep. That's exactly what they did when the fish bones were found in their food. Posted it on Champion and not Orijen. Which I thought was weird since it was only in the Orijen foods. You have to watch these guys carefully. They are slick.

[GreyGhost]

  Interesting. Lots of signatures on this release too. Once again I see that they still do not name the veteriniarian that they are working with. Wonder why they are being so secretive about it? I really hope it will not be too difficult for the owners of these cats who have been sickened, or that have died, to prove that it was the Orijen so they can at least recieve this compensation.

I also keep wondering why they keep leaving the veterinarian's name out. I can't understand the big secret.

[Perseus]

Posted with permission from catfoodissues forum:

A group of the Australian affected cat owners and supporters have created a new private forum to monitor the progress of their sick kitties as well as sharing information on treatments they are using in the nursing of their kitties.  A few of the kitties have already made a fairly significant stride towards recovery, while others are still experiencing the paralysis and other symptoms of the disease and continue to decline each day.  The people on the forum really need to be commended, as they nurse their sick kitties virtually around the clock as well as reporting back to the forum to share information with others.  Not to mention they have jobs to work, families to take care of and other responsibilities.

The group also discusses the costs of treatments and all the incidentals that need to be purchased as a result of the Orijen poisoning just to sustain their cats.  For example, most of the kitties will become completely incontinent and "pee pads" need to be placed all over the house.  The expenses associated with their care is quite honestly enormous.

The group quickly came to the conclusion that the Champion reimbursement of approx. $1400 per affected pet was in no way going to compensate the owners even for just the out of pocket expenses, plus the kitties are still ALL affected with the disease.  No one truly knows how long these cats will remain ill either.

After approaching Champion as a consortium last week with their complaints about the amount being offered for reimbursement, Champion did acknowledge their request and has taken it under consideration to increase the amount; a meeting was held yesterday at Champion's headquarters to address their complaints.

Let's all hope that Champion DOES THE RIGHT THING and agrees to cover ALL expenses and incidentals incurred by these suffering pet parents and cats.  Certainly a company the size of Champion can afford a full reimbursement since it was their direct negligence that cause the kitties to become so ill, and some have died.  It would be a shame to have Champion deny their requests, and if they are truly a humane company they will reimburse all expenses.

A final decision by Champion has not been relayed back to the group yet, and I will post again as soon as I have any further information.  Champion is being *watched* by a lot of U.S. pet parents and it would be a shame to lose all faith and trust in what was once a great PFC.

[Perseus]

Champion has posted a news release on their website regarding the additional amount they took under consideration for the pet parents of the affected cats.  There is NO additional amount being offered, the total reimbursement remains at about $1400.  Champion will now allow reimbursement of incidentals such as supplements against the claim, up to about $130. This doesn't even begin to cover just the vet bills on these kitties, much less all the incidentals, prescription drugs, supplements, etc etc that are needed.

The lousy $130 is also limited to only 4 items: pads, "special" litter boxes, exercise pens, feeding syringes, plus 3 supplements.

The pads are needed because all the cats become completely paralyzed in all four legs and fully incontinent and pee and poo all over the house and all over themselves.

The "special" litter boxes are needed because since the kitties are fully paralyzed they drag their bodies along the floor and into the litter box when they can, so they need a low litter box to drag their bodies into.

The exercise pens are needed because the pet parents work during the day and have to keep the kitties caged up or they will sustain injury or death as they drag, flop and flip their paralyzed bodies all over the house.

The feeding syringes are needed to assist feed them since a lot of them stop eating for numerous reasons including nausea from all the drugs that are shoved down their throats.

The supplements are needed to counter act all the poisonous peroxide that formed in their bodies, plus add back all the Vit A that was depleted from their bodies.

Nice picture, uh?

Well, thank you Champion Petfoods for doing the humane thing here in offering so much help and relief to these poor affected kitties and pet parents, and RIP all the poor kitties that have already died as a result of Champion's negligence.

I am not an Orijen feeder and even though there are no known problems with Orijen in the States, I do not think I would support this company after their reaction to this tragedy. 

Full press release:
http://www.championpetfoods.com/Australia_Consumer_Release_Jan19.pdf

[GreyGhost]

That is sickening. I haven't supported them since fish bone issue. They were the same way then. I see nothing has changed with them.

[Perseus]

I exchanged emails with one of the affected pet parents in Australia today, and here's what she has to say about the "February review/10 Mar announcement", posted with her permission:

They are stringing us along and buying themselves time.

"Wait and see what Father Christmas brings you"

Hoping we will say - oh we may as well wait another 6 weeks before taking legal action.

By March 10 it will be SIX MONTHS since it was first spotted by the vets that there was a link between all these paralysed cats coming through and them all being fed the same food. And the vets being made to keep quiet about it.

We shouldn't be waiting for them to tell us how much they will pay us and what it should be spent on.

They should be making a simple lump sum payment for every single cat veterinarily diagnosed as affected by this syndrome for the owner to spend as they deem best for their individual case and needs. Pay it now so no cat owner is out of pocket whilst waiting for them to condescend to consider things further.

Pay it now and let's all go away and get on with our lives, the cat owners and the manufacturer.

All this fiddling about and back and forth being precious about what the money is for - and once again doing NOTHING to investigate the reality in Australia to even come CLOSE to actual costs here. No preparation, no due diligence, just suck it and see, just like they did when they launched themselves and their product on the Australian market.

[Perseus]

Here's a post on catfoodissues forums from another affected pet parent in Australia, posted with her permission:

It seems that Champion are only responding to people once they sense they are getting annoyed. The fact that so many peoples emails are going unnoticed, with not even a receipt of email, makes me feel that they are not on our side.

If they have time to chat on US forums trying to get some credibility back from their largest market you would think they would at least have the common decency to reply to a small group of people whose cats are now a shadow of their former selves due to eating their food. They even have the time to respond to emails from people in the US who are now concerned about feeding their food to their animals. But not us. We are getting ignored and played for fools.

In the beginning I thought they were doing the right thing but seriously why would it take months for Champion to realise that they were negligent and need to FULLY compensate any parties involved. Their product. Their Problem.

If there are any other issues that is between Champion and the other companies involved. Not us. It was their job to export a "Biologically appropriate ' product. They did not. That's how I see it

[kaffe]

My impression (and mine only) of Champion's handling of this unspeakable tragedy that affected Aus cats that ate their food is that they have mainly been propelled in saving their reputation here in the US, Canada and maybe Europe.  They communicated more with American audiences then they did with the Aussies in the beggining --- until they found out that many Aussies with cats affected by their irradiated kibble were posting in American pet forums and in communication with American audiences.  It was only then that they offered their miserly compensation.

I've seen videos of some of the cats affected and they just make my heart stop and my eyes shoot blood in anger and grief!

[Bonkers]

  I am wondering how many claims Champion is estimating will be filed? Most likely that is how they arrived with the individual amount to be used as compensation.  So once again it has nothing to do with what these pet parents have endured or spent on their sick and dying kitties. Now if Champion had decided to stay in the Australian market things may have been different. But since they have pulled out, what do they care?

[GreyGhost]

Its really sad how they are treating these pet parents. All the while launching their Ancana product here in the US. Maybe that's why they are so concerned with the US people and emails. Pat us on the head and tell us all is ok and then launch your new product so people have something else to talk about. Makes me sick. They have gotten a piece of my mind many times and I believe I shall email them again. As far as I'm concerned they can take their products and keep them. I am fed up with their tactics. I've seen enough from these people.

[Perseus]

A local TV news station in Australia did a special report on the contaminated Orijen cat food.  The video link can be found on the right hand side of the news report.  It's very graphic showing how the kitties are paralyzed:

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2008/s2464272.htm

More and more kitties are being reported as sick from the Orijen cat food there, after having stopped eating it for months.  It's a devastating disease as some cats seem to be recovering and then they just pass away.

[kaffe]

This is just too tragic!  My heart really goes out to those in Australia dealing with kitties affected by Origen. 

[GreyGhost]

I can't believe the way this has gone and I can't believe the bull from orijen. After having to deal with them though I am not surprised by anything they do. They do not care about anything but the bottom line.

That video had me in tears.  Shame on Champion and may karma bite them in the wallet soon. This company is truly pathetic.

[Perseus]

Here's a cross post from the private forum of affected cat owners in Australia.  The group is in shock because they are seeing some improvements in their sick kitties and were hoping the improvements continue.  But no one really knows what the end results will be and if the kitties can recover completely.

"I have the saddest of news. Hunter passed away last week. He continued to get worse and needed to be given water with a syringe daily and then had a seizure. We are absolutely devastated and really struggling especially since he was showing some signs of improvement in his back legs.

I just can not express the grief the we are going through as he was our little baby and was only 3 yrs old.

I wish you all the very best in your cats recovery.

I just don't know how we are going to cope without him anymore."

So how does $1400 from Champion comfort this poor pet parent?  It didn't even cover the basic expenses much less the loss of their baby.  Champion isn't even answering emails from them any more and have completely abandoned them.  Champion knew the food was going to be irradiated and were warned to have the food tested prior to putting it on the market in Australia but did nothing.  All they were concerned about then and now is making more money.  Champion only recalled the cat food and not the dog food in Australia even though it was also irradiated and could kill any kitties that may eat some of the dog food accidentally.  What a bunch of a$$hole$ Champion turned out to be with their "biologically correct" poisoned food.

[coontuffy]

I am so devastated to learn of Hunter's passing.
He was just a baby