We’re calling on the Fourstar Group (FSG) and the 99 Cents Only Stores to stop producing, distributing, and/or selling the toxic, unhealthy dog treats that made dogs violently ill. Stop selling the Rawhide Holiday Stocking and other pet treats with the same or similarly risky ingredients. 

Keeping these treats on the market is dangerous to dogs’ health. It’s unfair to customers who buy the Rawhide Holiday Stocking or receive these as gifts under the impression that this product ought to be safe but are then slammed with a major pet health scare and potentially costly veterinary bills or possible pet death. No pet product should be sold which could cause undue illness or other risk to pets.

Months ago, we reported to the Fourstar Group, an international importer/exporter, and staff at the 99 Cents Store in California that the Fourstar Group’s Rawhide Holiday Stocking rawhide dog treats sold at the 99 Cents stores caused several cases of extreme illness in our community’s dogs. These cases affected our service dogs and certified emotional support dogs. We were all gifted this product and reasonably expected it to be safe. There wasn’t and still isn’t any specific warning label on Fourstar Group’s rawhide treats stating that rawhide even in small amounts can cause bowel obstruction and/or death, that ingredients like the artificial flavors used can be unsafe for dogs’ health, nor that this product might cause vomiting and other serious side effects. We gave the treats to our dogs as directed and under supervision. Our dogs were caused to vomit for at least 1-2 weeks each and also experienced small seizures and lingering ataxia among other symptoms for at least several weeks afterwards.

Emergency vet clinic staff said that the toxic treats could’ve potentially caused pet death. Vets also cited the cheap ingredients including artificial colors, which aren’t good for dogs’ health, and irradiation as potential causes for the violent illness. They also informed us that veterinarians don’t recommend rawhide treats at all because even in moderation, they can cause bowel obstruction which can lead to a painful death. 

The Fourstar Group’s response was to hire a lawyer, Michael L. Gay of Cors & Bassett, a law firm with a public history of taking on cases to defend people who discriminate against people with disabilities. He illogically denied that the toxic product caused illness to our dogs and denied my requests for aid with our veterinary bills despite the high risk to our dogs. For those of us who could afford it and/or access charity assistance, we were left to handle veterinary access on our own despite Fourstar Group’s fault and the high medical risk to our beloved companion animals. Fourstar Group’s clear agenda was to try to prevent there being any medical record of their fault in the matter. It was clear that Fourstar Group only cares about profit and not being held liable. Fourstar Group must conduct itself in an honorable and ethical manner, and cease selling unsafe products.

99 Cent Store staff have been somewhat more appropriately concerned but apparently need permission from higher up to remove unsafe items and/or haven’t been properly trained to remove unsafe products from stores in order to protect the public. The 99 Cent Store must immediately implement a policy to remove toxic and/or otherwise unsafe products as soon as their staff receive a complaint. This is in the interest of public health and safety, and could help prevent illness or death. The 99 Cents Only Store could also be held liable alongside Fourstar Group if they don’t take action to prevent more dogs from becoming ill. 

To date, the Fourstar Group and 99 Cents Store are still distributing this dangerous product. There is no warning label on the product that rawhide treats can cause bowel obstruction which can lead to pet death, nor that the other ingredients (like artificial flavors) and methods of production or distribution causing irradiation can also cause potential illness.

Products with the potential to cause unnecessary pain and suffering to pets shouldn’t be sold at all. 

The Fourstar Group and 99 Cents Store must:

1. Pull the Rawhide Holiday Stocking, any other Fourstar Group pet foods or treats containing ingredients which could cause illness, and other rawhide products from sale and distribution immediately. 

2. Warn customers of the dire health risk to their pets. Offer refunds as well as compensation to provide for veterinary care in cases where these products have caused illness. 

3. Stop selling rawhide pet chews/treats altogether. Many veterinarians advise against rawhide treats entirely because the rawhide cannot be properly digested and even when chewed or eaten in small amounts, may cause bowel obstruction potentially leading to a painful death. 

4. Improve the quality of ingredients in other pet treats and ensure their safety for pets’ health. The artificial coloring and irradiation were both cited by veterinarians as potential causes for some of the illness caused by the Rawhide Holiday Stocking treats. Investigate what other ingredients could cause illness or other issues for pets and exclude those unsafe ingredients from all products. 

5. Implement and abide strictly by ethical standards to protect pets and the public. The Fourstar Group and the 99 Cents Only Store must implement policies to respond swiftly to complaints, to remove unsafe products from sale and distribution immediately until the product can be safely improved or replaced with a safe product, to notify the public of product recalls and risks caused by faulty products in order to help people avoid illness and/or death, and to compensate and aid people (pets and/or humans) who have been harmed. Pets’ health and public health and safety in general should always be prioritized over profit. 

6. The Fourstar Group must consult with qualified veterinarians and research what types of food products can be safely and ethically used to produce dog treats and/or any other pet foods, treats, pet toys, pet products, etc which they produce, distribute, etc. Ensure that the ingredients and all product materials are ethically and sustainably sourced, animal cruelty-free, provide a living wage for all involved workers in every step of the production and distribution chain, and are certified fully safe and healthy for pet consumption. 

7. If the Fourstar Group refuses to conduct itself in an ethical manner and remove all such toxic pet treats from sale and distribution, the 99 Cents Only Store must stop doing business with them. The 99 Cents Only Stores must prioritize customers and our pets’ health and safety. 

Fourstar Group and the 99 Cent Store: Stop putting pets at risk. Prioritize public health and safety. No more toxic dog treats!