Bad Bones No More
Last year, Better Business Bureau stepped up efforts to inform consumers and retailers about the dangers of a pet product being sold on many local store shelves.
Our efforts to bring attention to this product paid off as Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, announced it will no longer sell Dynamic Pet Products’ Real Ham Bone – a product that has been the focus of dozens of Better Business Bureau (BBB) complaints alleging the bones splintered and killed or injured their dogs.
The Walmart decision follows a year-long effort by BBB to get the bones removed from the retailer’s shelves. In an effort to publicize the danger, BBB mailed bones and fact sheets, entitled “Bad Bones,” to all U.S. senators and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last June.
Frick’s Quality Meats, a Washington, Mo., company, has distributed the plastic-wrapped smoked pork femurs over the past 14 years. Frick’s has been producing the bones as a byproduct of its meat processing business. Despite the customer complaints, Frick’s contended the bones were safe when pet owners properly supervised their use, and that “compliments far outweigh the complaints or concerns received.”
Walmart confirmed its decision to stop selling the bones in a brief statement to BBB.
“We’re always reviewing our assortment to bring our customers great items at an everyday low price,” Walmart said in the statement. “As part of that review, we’ve made some changes to our assortment of pet bones and treats and will no longer carry the Real Ham Bone by Dynamic Pet.” Walmart did not elaborate on the decision.
It is unclear whether Frick’s will continue to market the bones. The website for Frick’s pet products, dynamicpet.net, no longer offers the bones for sale.
Frick’s and Dynamic Pet Products have not responded to a BBB request for additional information.
BBB first reported concerns about the bones in a March 2010 news release. In April 2015, BBB again alerted pet owners to potential dangers associated with the bones after noting a jump in consumer complaints. Some pet owners paid thousands of dollars in veterinarian bills they said were a direct result of their pets consuming the bones.
In addition to the news alerts, media interviews and mailings to Senators and the FDA, BBB also worked to educate consumers about the topic through social media.
Customers across the nation filed more than 60 complaints against the company since 2008, with 46 of those filed since January 2015. Most complainants allege their pets suffered severe injuries or died after bone fragments lodged in their dogs’ digestive tracts.
The bones previously were sold through several retailers, including Dollar General Stores, Schnucks stores and Jewel-Osco. Schnucks and Jewel-Osco said they discontinued selling the bones after they learned of potential problems. BBB does not believe Dollar General is still selling the bones.
BBB first brought its concerns to Walmart in April 2015, prior to issuing its second news alert. The company declined to respond at that time.
In an interview with a Chicago Tribune reporter in August of that year, Walmart spokesman Brian Nick said the company had thoroughly reviewed potential issues with its supplier and “we are confident in offering this product to our customers.” The New York Times also covered the BBB warnings. A writer for that paper said that same month Nick told him that it had asked Dynamic Pet Products earlier in the year to make a warning label on the bone more conspicuous. Nick said a new label was set off in bright yellow in June.
A California attorney filed a federal class action lawsuit last year against Frick’s on behalf of several consumers.
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