South Sound Residents Join Petition To Stop Selling Dog Treats That Killed Dog

Local dog owners have joined 67,000 others across the country who've signed an online petition to prompt local stores to stop selling the Waggin' Trail treats.

The online peition at Change.org began when an Illinois woman's dog died after eating the treats. The petition includes local stores such as Walmart, Walgreens, Target and Safeway.

(Click here to visit the petition site)

Now, the petition has moved down to Olympia. Here is the full story:

Olympia area dog owners are joining a popular petition on Change.org calling on several major retailers including Costco, Target, Safeway, Walmart, Sam's Club, Walgreens, and Kroger to take jerky-style dog treats currently being investigated by the FDA off the shelves.

The 60,000-strong campaign on Change.org was started by Rita Desollar, whose German Shepherd Heidi died within a week of eating two pieces of “Waggin' Train”-brand chicken jerky dog treats, which were still being sold in stores despite the FDA's cautionary warnings and ongoing investigation. The FDA has received reports of more than 2,200 cases of pet illness, including 361 deaths, linked to chicken jerky dog treats made in China.

"We’re all asking the same question at this point,” said Desollar. “Can we still trust the stores that continue to sell these dangerous dog treats?"

Suzanne Dinning, a resident of Tumwater, joined Desollar’s campaign after watching her own dog, Randi, die after eating "Healthy Hide"-brand chicken jerky dog treats purchased at a local Costco.

“I want to see all the food and treats with chicken jerky made in China pulled from the shelves," said Dinning. "I don't want anyone else to go through what I and many others already have in losing pets to this unnecessary evil."

Thousands of concerned dog owners, including several whose dogs have become sick or died after consuming the treats, have left comments on the Change.org petition expressing their frustration that these treats are still being sold at their favorite stores.

“It's clear from the response to Rita's campaign that a lot of pet owners are frustrated and concerned that potentially dangerous dog treats are still being sold without warning,” said Stephanie Feldstein, Senior Campaigner at Change.org. “This is yet another example of how consumers are using Change.org to demand accountability from retailers.”