Pet owner questions dog treat recall

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — A Bartow County man involved in the campaign to remove Chinese-made chicken dog treats from shelves voiced suspicions about a recent recall.
         
Keith Roloson said his Maltese-poodle mix suffered severe vomiting and lethargy after eating Waggin' Train treats, and his schnauzer needed surgery for bladder stones.
        
Nestle Purina PetCare announced a recall of Waggin' Train brand dog treats Wednesday because the products may contain trace amounts of a poultry antibiotic that isn't approved in the United States. Roloson blames the treats for his dog's illness, but said there's a red flag with the recall.
        
"I'm thinking this may be a strategic move on their part, so call me cynical," Roloson said.
         
In an online posting, Waggin Train President Nina Leigh Krueger ties the recall to the antibiotics, which are permitted in China but not in the United States. Milo's Kitchen cited the same reason for its recall. The decision came two months after a Channel 2 Action News investigation about pet owners waging a campaign to pull the product off the shelves.

But the FDA told Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland the drugs likely did not make any dogs sick.

"It's better to yank it now, for a safe reason, than to have real poison discovered later and to have all these lawsuits hit them," said Roloson.
         
As the FDA continues to investigate 2,200 dog illnesses and 360 deaths, Channel 2's random checks found stores complying the recalls that are in effect.

WSBTV