PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Toxic Pet Products Need Regulation
  1. Signatures
    383 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Chairman (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Chairman (Inez Tenenbaum)
      • Commissioner (Bob Adler)
      • Commissioner (Anne Northup)
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent federal regulatory agency that develops safety standards and enforces recalls for consumer products used in and around the home. Yet they do not currently have any hazardous chemical standards for pet products.

Recent tests conducted by HealthyStuff.org on over 400 pet products found that:

- 45% of pet products tested had detectable levels of one or more hazardous chemical, including:

- One-quarter of all pet products had detectable levels of lead.

-7% of all pet products have lead levels greater than 300 ppm -- the current CPSC lead standard for lead in children's products.

- Nearly half of pet collars had detectable levels of lead; with 27% exceeding 300 ppm -- the CPSC limit for lead in children's products.

-One half (48%) of tennis balls tested had detectable levels of lead. Tennis balls intended for pets were much more likely to contain lead. Sports tennis balls contained no lead.

The pet industry is over $45 billion dollars and growing. With nearly 75 million pet dogs and 88 million pet cats in American homes, that's a lot of unregulated products in households. These products potentially expose the entire family -- including pets and kids -- to toxic chemicals. While we don't know all of the impacts of these chemicals on our companion animals, we do know that cancer is on the rise among pets. Animals deserve protection from dangerous products, too!

Write the CPSC and demand regulation for chemicals in pet products.

Recent Signatures

Please Develop Safety Standards for Pet Products

Greetings,

I am writing to ask the CPSC to develop chemical standards for pet products.

Recent tests of over 400 pet products, including beds, chew toys, stuffed toys, collars, leashes, and tennis balls, found one or more hazardous chemicals in 45% of the items, including one-quarter with detectable levels of lead. 7% of all the pet products, and 27% of the pet collars, had levels of lead exceeding the CPSC limit for children's products of 300 ppm. You can find the complete test results at HealthyStuff.org.

Toxic pet products add to the potential exposure of all family members, including children who often share their pets' toys. The majority of American households are affected by the safety of pet products. There are 75 million dogs and 88 million cats in homes, and Americans spend over $45 billion a year on their companion animals.

Most people consider their pets part of the family, and many studies have shown the psychological and health benefits of pet ownership. Sadly, cancer is on the rise among companion animals. While the exact causes are unknown, pets carry a higher level of chemical contamination than humans. For example, bio-monitoring of cats found brominated flame retardant exposure 23x higher than humans. There are safe alternatives for pet and human products.

I urge you to develop hazardous chemical safety standards for pet products. Please protect all the members of our families.

[Your name]

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