The “unlucky” Dogs and Cats of the Iams Pet Food Company–Disputed!
Summary of eRumor:
The story says that thousands of “unlucky” dogs and cats are imprisoned in “cells” by the Iams pet food company. It is alleged that some have been surgically de-barked, had chunks of muscle removed from their thighs and in other ways have been mistreated. This is from an undercover investigation by PETA, the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals organization.
The Truth:
PETA has set up a website at www.iamscruelty.com to report on its investigation into a contract testing laboratory.
An undercover PETA investigator worked for the facility for 10 months and objected to what she described as “the desperately boring, lonely, harsh lives of the animals.”
She said that the animals were in barren cells, subjected to temperature extremes, and that 60 dogs were subjected to an invasive surgical procedure that included removing huge chunks of muscle from their legs and that half of them died.
As a result of the investigation, PETA filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in June, 2003 charging that Iams’ stated standards of treatment of animals were false and misleading.
Iams is the pet food unit of the Procter & Gamble company.
In a June 11, 2003 article in the Cincinnati Post, Procter & Gamble said it was reviewing conditions at its contract labs but charged that PETA sensationalized some of its claims.
Iams spokesman Bryan Brown denied that any of the dogs at the facility that was investigated died.
He says that all of the 20 or so contract facilities were freshly investigated and although some of them didn’t meet the company’s humane standards, there were no violations of federal laws or regulations.
Last updated 12/23/03