Pet Food Settlement Reached, Gets Initial Approval

Pet food settlement reached, gets initial approval

A Camden, New Jersey, USA judge granted initial approval late last week to the settlement in which companies that manufactured or sold contaminated pet food would compensate pet owners for all costs related to the death or illness of their dogs and cats. Under the deal, granted initial approval by U.S. District Judge Noel Hillman, pet owners in the United States and Canada would be notified of the settlement by June 16, 2008 and would have until early December to submit claims. A final hearing on the US$24 million settlement is scheduled for October 14, 2008, according to the Associated Press. The US$24 million sum is in addition to the US$8 million already paid to some pet owners.

The settlement doesn’t pay pet owners for pain and suffering from injuries to their pets.The settlement allows pet owners to apply for expenses associated with deaths and illnesses, including the costs of veterinarians, time missed from work to care for sick animals, replacement pets, burial expenses and even property damaged because animals got sick. The companies, including Menu Foods, will create a fund allowing consumers to recover up to 100% of their money damages, if they can document their claim, lawyers representing both sides said. Pet owners can request up to US$900 for undocumented claims in case they didn’t save all their receipts. Owners can also be reimbursed if they had their dogs screened for contaminated food – even if they turned out to be healthy. Plaintiffs lawyers are seeking US$6 million of the settlement in fees. Money left over after all claims are paid is to go to animal-welfare charities.