Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower was quoted once as saying, “It’s not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight that’s in the dog.”  Smart words to live by.  This saying is found on the website for Merrick Pet Care products and has taken on a slightly different meaning since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has partnered with the company to make sure a product of their’s does not affect the future of dogs and their fight within them.

In January, 2010, the FDA recalled Merrick’s 10-Ounce Beef Square dog treats due to a product liability concern that the pet snack was contiminated with salmonella.  Currently, the Merrick and the government branch are working to help consumers return the tainted items, as well as spread the word about the danger associated with a certain shipment of the treats.

Here at our San Diego firm, the personal injury attorneys are always concerned that a defect product will not only hurt one person, but that the number of product liability claims will eventually flood in as the contamination spreads.  While our lawyers can handle dog bite cases and usually have clients who are humans instead of canines, we also recognize that pets can experience the same amount of pain and suffering that any man, woman, or child would, so it is important that some speaks up for them.

The FDA has asked that all Merrick Beef Squares with lot #09323 and expiration date 11/19/2011 be returned immediately (Source: Amazon.com)

“No humans have been reported cases of salmonella from the product, but you can get infected if you touch the pet food and then touch your mouth or face,”  a Merrick customer service representative told Serious Accidents.  That said, you (yes, you humans) still need to be careful and double check that your hands are washed before touching your face.

So far, the outbreak of salmonella has been fairly small and the efforts are FDA and Merrick appear to be proving off.  This does not mean that you should not take your chances, even if you know that you have batch of the contaminated treats and they are still unopened in their original seal.  Who knows who could get in them?  Sometimes kids do not know the difference between animal and human treats or are curious.  If they accidentally ate one of the salmonella tainted beef squares, then they could come down with a children’s injury that would require immediate medical treatment.

However, our firm’s personal injury attorneys know that you should not take a chances with your family’s four-legged members and return the beef square treats immediately if it contains the lot number 09323 with the expiration date of November 11, 2011.  You can also contact the Food and Drug Administration or Merrick Pet Care for more information about what you can do to keep your pet healthy.

The size of the fight in the dog might be big, but even a little trace of salmonella can make your pup sick as a dog.

What do you think about this story?  Do you have any experiences with other pet food recalls?  Have you ever had a problem with Merrick products before?

Please contact us for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585.  Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review.  No fee if no recovery.