Poop City

Jealous loser "allegedly" kills cat

A wannabe baseball pitcher and actor allegedly took his frustrations out on his girlfriend's cat late last month.

Authorities say Joe Petcka beat 7-pound tabby Norman to death on March 27. Petcka was reportedly jealous of Norman, who he complained got more attention from Petcka's girlfriend than he did. The one-time Mets draftee was arrested last week and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.

Says Newsday:

... Petcka, who stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 205 pounds, choked and beat the tawny-colored cat ... so badly that the feline suffered three broken ribs, a broken leg and cracked teeth, said Joseph Pentangelo, assistant director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Norman's body was discovered by his guardian, Sports Illustrated writer Lisa Altobelli, after she and Petcka had gotten into an argument. Petcka allegedly returned to her apartment after the fight, when Altobelli wasn't home, and killed him.

She took the cat to an animal hospital, where vets determined that it suffered a lingering, agonizing death.

"Because of the chest trauma, there was difficulty breathing," [ASPCA vet Robert] Reisman said. "The cat died over a period of 15 minutes."

And what do you know - turns out Petcka has a prior arrest for domestic abuse, reports the Sun:

Just after midnight on September 28, 2002, [Petcka] allegedly grabbed his girlfriend by the throat and threw her out of his apartment, before slamming the door on her finger, police said. A neighbor of Mr. Petcka's at 144 Spencer St. in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn said the woman had to have her finger re-attached.

What a sweetheart.

And Petcka's defense for killing Norman? That's right: the cat started it.

Petcka's lawyer, Charles Hochbaum, defended the actor, claiming that it was Norman who was the aggressor.

"I can say what we believe happened," the attorney said. "The cat bit him, then any injuries to the cat were in response to being bit."

Of course. And his ex-girlfriend grabbed herself by the throat before dismembering her own finger. Allegedly.

Petcka faces up to two years in jail. Here's hoping that's the best thing that happens to him.

Giuliani dogged by Post readers

Dog lovers (or "animal-rights activists," as the Post calls them) are reacting to coverage of Judi Giuliani's work history, which includes a stint at U.S. Surgical, a company that killed dogs to demonstrate its products.

Here's a sampling:

To witness or participate in the pain and suffering of a living being tells so much of a person's lack of character, greed and selfishness.

This is unforgivable, and she should be ashamed. The thought of Giuliani as first lady sickens me.

Rudy Giuliani has lost my vote. Anyone who can condone animal abuse is a loser in my eyes.

If Giuliani desires to be the first lady, she must understand two things: It is not a good idea to ignore public opinion, and Americans like animals and have a special fondness for dogs.

Giuliani's indifference to suffering obviously carried over to people, evidenced by her escapades with Rudy while he was married.

Ouch.

For his part, Mr. Giuliani doesn't think the issue is worthy of comment. At least not yet.

Photo: pwilnyc via Flickr

Giuliani killed dogs for money

The Post reports that First Lady hopeful Judith Giuliani once worked for a medical supply firm that routinely maimed and then killed dogs during surgeries performed for the sole purpose of demonstrating its products.

U.S. Surgical killed "hundreds" of dogs from the 1970s through the 90s, the Post says. Giuliani got a job there in 1975, as a saleswoman in North Carolina, and worked for the company for four years.

"It was a horribly cruel, outrageous program," Friends of Animals President Priscilla Feral said about the demonstrations of medical staplers on dogs ...

The dogs were "either put to death following the sales demonstrations because they can't recover from them, or they die during them," Feral said.

A campaign spokesman for Rudy Giuliani told the Post that Judith Giuliani "was in the operating room hundreds of times," but would not say whether she participated in demonstrations involving dogs.

Seems likely she did, though.

As the story says [emphasis added]:

The company, now part of Tyco Healthcare, has long acknowledged its salespeople routinely demonstrated staples on anesthetized dogs as part of sales pitches to doctors.

Then-CEO Leon Hirsch defended the practice in the 1980s, saying there was no other way to properly show how the staplers worked.

"A dead dog doesn't bleed," Hirsch said in a 1988 issue of Time magazine. "You need to have real blood-flow conditions, or you get a false sense of security."

Did someone say security? Yes, security!! Homeland Security!! Terrorism!! 9/11!! Run Rudy run!!

About aminopterin

Aminopterin is a "folic acid antagonist." It was used to induce abortions in the 1950s, causing deformities in surviving fetuses. It has long been used as a treatment for leukemia, with varying results due to its volatile toxicity. It is classified as an "Extremely Hazardous Substance" by the federal government.

It is also used in rat poison, though according to a government profile, aminopterin is not "registered" as a rodenticide in the United States.

Signs and symptoms of acute exposure to aminopterin may include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucosa), pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx), erythematous rashes (red rashes on the skin), hyperpigmentation (abnormally increased pigmentation), chills, fever, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and renal failure (especially in high doses).

UPDATE: More on aminopterin from vetcetera.
UPDATE 3/24: Technical info on how aminopterin may present in dogs and cats, again from vetcetera.

BREAKING: Rat poison suspected

ABC says rat poison is the suspected Menu Foods contaminant.

March 23, 2007— ABC News has learned that investigators have determined that a rodent killing chemical is the toxin in the tainted pet food that has killed several animals.

A source close to the investigation tells ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the U.S., was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.

A news conference is scheduled for this afternoon by experts in Albany, New York where scientists at the state's Food Laboratory made the discovery a week after a massive recall of 60 million cans and pouches was issued.

The chemical is aminopterin.

What investigators can't say so far is whether this is the only contaminant in all of the recalled food.

There is some good news according to the source. Knowing the chemical should aid veterinarians who are treating animals that have been sickened by the pet food.

The chemical is used in the United States for, of all things, a cancer drug, according to the source.

Day Eight

- With no word yet on the cause and an unofficial death toll nearing the 1000 mark, Animal Medical Center vet Cathy Langston tells ABC News she has "already heard about 200 cases" of Menu Foods-related illness, and says there "are probably going to be thousands." It is unclear if she was referring to cases nationwide, or those in New York City alone.

- Neil Shaw, chief medical officer for NYC Veterinary Specialists & Cancer Treatment Center in Manhattan, says vets are seeing cases of chronic kidney failure in addition to acute onset. Yet some vets are reportedly telling pet parents not to be concerned unless their animals develop symptoms - even if they ate food subject to the recall. Having lost two cats to renal failure myself, I would not only ignore this advice, but end my relationship with any vet who offered it. Testing blood and urine is easy. Watching your buddy die slowly is hard.

- Newsweek reports that FEMA - er, the FDA - only inspects pet food plants on a "for-cause" basis - that is, when it's too late.  Still, claims industry flack Duane Ekedahl: "Pet foods are the highest regulated product you'll find in the grocery store." Let's hope not. Says Ann Martin, author of three pet health books: "It's wide open. As far as ingredients go, there is no regulation." Which would explain the "road kill, zoo animal carcasses and fecal matter" Martin says is found in some brands. Luckily, according to Newsweek, this whole recall business has only affected a "small number of families."

- The Newsweek story also points out that the suspect Menu Foods plant, in Kansas, is still open. The company says safety checks are being performed "around the clock," but if they don't know what they're looking for, how can they look for it?

- There is still doubt as to how Menu Foods became aware of the contamination. The FDA has said it was revealed through routine taste testing, but it has been widely reported that Menu Foods was alerted to the problem by consumer complaints. If the FDA version is correct, does that mean Menu released the food into the market before they tested it? Or did they not test until their customers' pets started dying?

- California chain Pet Food Express has yanked all Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet and Nutro foods from its stores' shelves, and is selling other Menu products "only if a client is fully aware of the recall and the potential risk posed by feeding a product made by Menu Foods." Despite assurances from the company, PFE says, "we cannot and do not vouch that they are safe." PFE has posted a useful list of food brands, showing what is and isn't manufactured by Menu. Did you know Newman's Own is a Menu product?

In other recall news:
- A victim's parent questions the recall list. [BARC]
- Plaintiffs wanted for class-action suit. [Progressive Law Group]

Photo: ilun, via Flickr

Menu Foods has a heart, and it goes out to you

After almost a week of unreturned phone calls and refusals to comment, not to mention over 500 suspected deaths (vs. 16 "official" ones), Menu Foods is talking to the media.

Paul Henderson, CEO and president, spoke to the Associated Press:

"This is a puzzling and troubling experience for everybody within this organization," Henderson said in an interview from company headquarters in Streetsville, Ontario. "It is extremely disheartening that we haven't been able to find the causative agent."

"Our hearts go out to all of the pet owners across Canada, the United States and Mexico for any losses they experience and certainly for the worry this incident may be causing," Henderson said.

It's comforting that Menu Foods has finally opened up to us, since any incidental losses we have experienced may be causing us to worry and all. But are the puzzled and troubled folks within the organization also talking to veterinarians?

From vetcetera:

...[W]hile it is nice to know that Menu’s in-house testing revealed a mortality rate possibly as high as 20 percent, what the veterinary community really needs to know are the morbidity data. Of the animals that did not die: did they get sick? If so, what symptoms did they exhibit? How were they treated and what proved effective in their recovery? What tests should veterinarians be running? Should we be sending samples from deceased animals for pathology? If so, to which labs and what samples do they need?

Presumably Menu will require some sort of proof before paying out on claims of pet owners whose pets have died after eating Menu-produced food. Yet Menu hasn’t indicated what sorts of samples veterinarians should be collecting. Whole blood? Serum? Kidney biopsies? (In formalin or not?) These details could prove crucial down the road.

Henderson also offered an explanation as to why there was a delay between the first reported cases and the recall. According to him, two of the sick animals lived outdoors and therefore may have been exposed to other contaminants. This is a pitifully weak excuse on several counts, since for one thing the FDA time line - which in and of itself is questionable - says it took six consumer complaints to get the ball rolling. So what about the other four, Paul?

Meanwhile, in its second cautious press release since the recall, entitled "ASPCA Continues to Respond to Concerns on Nationwide Pet Food Recall," the ASPCA says vets at its Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital "have today started to see a few cases" of food related illness. Guess everyone's going to Animal Medical Center, where since Saturday they've seen 143 animals who may have been sickened by contaminated food, along with 10 definites, one of whom died.

Taking a step back, Denise Flaim and Itchmo offer good advice on food, love and loss.

In other recall news:
- Itchmo has a printable list of recalled foods. [Itchmo]
- Trader Joe's is pulling food, recalled or not. [Trader Joe's]
- The lawsuits begin. [NYP]

Day Six

- New Yorkers and others are flooding Gothamist with horrific tales of dying and dead loved ones, including some who ate food not (yet) included on the recall list.

- The Post says the Animal Medical Center has seen seven cats and one dog with kidney failure since Saturday, and the hospital is investigating 143 cases of potential poisoning. The Daily News quotes the AMC chair as saying ""I haven't spoken to a veterinarian who hasn't seen a case."

- The latest Times coverage consists of what amounts to an FDA press release trumpeting the new official death toll - 13 cats and one dog, including the nine animals who died during food testing. For those keeping score, that comes to five acknowledged deaths of family pets. Heckuva job.

- Itchmo reports that the FDA has yet locate the tainted gluten suspected to be the cause of food contamination, that the Menu Foods facility in question is still open, and that it has never been inspected by the feds. Might want to read that again to let it sink in.

- Vetcetera wonders why the response from the FDA and pet food companies - including Menu Foods, which seems to be talking to no one - has been so anemic, why mainstream media outlets aren't devoting more attention to the story, and why many are downplaying the casualties (see the Times).

News breaks, none of it good

As the FDA narrows its search for the source of contamination in Menu Foods products, the news surrounding this disaster becomes increasingly disturbing.

As reported by Itchmo, complaints of tainted food date as far back as December, contradicting most every report and press release issued so far, as well as the time line issued by the FDA, which says the "first of six complaints" came to Menu Foods on February 20. Even if the February date were correct, that's three weeks and four three days before the recall - time Menu Foods dedicated to making sure its products were, in fact, deadly.

Even so, the head of the Veterinary Information Network tells the St. Louis Dispatch he is suspicious of Menu Foods' disclosures to this point.

"I gotta believe that they know more than what they are saying," Dr. Paul Pion said of Menu Foods.

"We need full disclosure if we are going to figure this out. We got to get the company to give out the history of what was needed for the recall."

The same article reports that "An FDA spokeswoman said she did not know whether the company was cooperating," while Menu Foods did not return the paper's calls.

Here in the city, guardians are flooding vets' offices and food supply stores, and questioning the party line espoused by Menu Foods.

Laura Iskowitz, a teacher from Monroe, N.J., said she's convinced that the death last January of her mixed lab Angel was due to the tainted food.

"She didn't even look like my dog at the end," Iskowitz said. "There's no reason whatsoever for a 3-year-old to die of kidney failure. It's disgusting."

Keep up with the latest recall headlines here.

AMENDMENT: I neglected to mention BARC Blog as a local source. They are following the story, including some hanky-panky with the recall list.

Where to turn

Many of you are no doubt spending a lot of time trolling for updates on the food recall. I'm posting the latest and most relevant info I come across in the right hand column, and will continue to do so. As always, watch for new headlines there as well.

The best overall source I've found (thanks to the BARC Blog) is itchmo!seattle, which is doing an incredible job of not only of analyzing what is known, but digging up what isn't. Itchmo is what Poop City wants to be when it grows up.

Based on what I'm seeing, several things are becoming apparent. One is that dogs are being sickened by the contaminated food - not just cats, as some outlets have reported. Another is that the list of contaminated lot numbers is growing, as is the number of seriously ill and possibly dying companion animals. Another is that Menu Foods has flubbed the recall operation, first by a delay between the time the problem was known and the time the recall was initiated, and second by being less than helpful to the public in this time of great anxiety.

Locally, the Times recall story is number one on its "most e-mailed" list, but updates are slow in coming from the conventional media. From where I sit, the blogs own this one so far.

More to come.

Graphic: itchmo!seattle