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.