Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Pet Food Recall

Kroger Recalls Pet Foods Due to Possible Health Risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CINCINNATI, Ohio, - December 18, 2010 - The Kroger Co. said today it is recalling select packages of pet food sold in some of its retail stores because the products may contain aflatoxin, which poses a health risk to pets.

Kroger stores in the following states are INCLUDED in this recall: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The recall also INCLUDES Dillons and Gerbes stores in Kansas and Missouri; Baker’s stores in Nebraska; Food 4 Less stores in Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana (Chicago area); and Jay C, Hilander, Owen’s, Pay Less and Scott’s stores in Illinois and Indiana.

Stores the company operates under the following names are NOT included in this recall: Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, Smith’s, QFC, City Market, Foods Co., and Food 4 Less stores in California and Nevada.

Kroger is recalling the following items:
  • Pet Pride Cat Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111088128
  • Pet Pride Cat Food sold in 18 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071357
  • Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111088152
  • Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food sold in 18 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074580
  • Pet Pride Kitten Formula Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071903
  • Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food sold in 22 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074566
  • Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food sold in 50 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074563
  • Kroger Value Cat Food sold in 3 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111000018
  • Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food sold in 15 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071559
  • Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food sold in 50 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code:1111000108
Aflatoxin is a naturally-occurring toxic chemical by-product from the growth of the fungus Aspergillus flavus on corn and other crops. If your pet shows any symptoms of illness, including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, yellowish tint to the eyes and/or gums, and severe or bloody diarrhea, please consult your veterinarian immediately.

The safety of our customers and their pets is important to Kroger. The company is using its Customer Recall Notification system to alert customers who may have purchased these recalled products through register receipt tape messages and automated phone calls. Customers who have purchased a recalled item should not use it and should return it to a store for a full refund or replacement.

Customers who have questions about this recall may contact Kroger toll-free at (800) 632-6900. For more information, please visit www.kroger.com/recalls9.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

David Letterman: Stupid Pet Tricks--Playing Dead

Happy Birthday Lucy

It has been a joyous day, indeed, in the Calvert household.  We have literally been having a ball celebrating Lucy's birthday. She turned 9 in dog years which would make her 63 in human years today. Woof!

On Saturday, we brought presents for Lucy; a 12 pack of tennis balls and a stuffed, squeaky toy. I brought them in the house and placed them on the top shelf in the laundry room without her seeing the bags. (I did this while she was on potty break with daddy.)

Low and behold, she came in the house after her break sniffing her way to her gifts.  Then she camped in the doorway of the laundry room EVERY DAY pining for them (minus potty breaks, meals and bedtime, of course) until this morning. Here she is:
She drove me crazy. She would get up and point to the bags. They were 7 feet in the air in closed bags for goodness sakes!

The morning of her birthday, (today), we were up and at 12:01 am, I gave her a ball. She played with it until we went to bed. This morning, I gave her the other 11 along with a stuffed, squeaky toy. The stuffed, squeaky toy came in second fiddle to those tennis balls. Lucy was fetching and playing ball all day. It was hilarious. (Steve couldn't understand why I gave her all 12 balls on one day.  I explained her birthday comes around once a year and knew she'd "have a ball" with all of them.)
At dinner time, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Lucy. She just stared at us. At the start of the third line, she ran over to the counter where her food bowl was sitting and pointed.  "Forget the song. I'm hungry. Feed me!", she said with her dog gesture.

We have been mighty blessed with Lucy for 9 years. She is always there to greet us when we arrive home with her ears laid back and wagging tail. She is a free, calming spirit of unconditional love.

Happy Birthday, Sweat Pea! You are the light of our lives.