I can
give you several reasons you should think twice about buying that dog toy made
in China. Dog toys made in China have
been found to have high levels of lead (not to mention other toxic materials
and poor construction).
Years
ago, (2008) there were massive recalls of children’s toys made in China, due to
high lead levels and other chemical toxicity.
Before that (2007), dog food
made in China was recalled due to contaminants.
Healthy
Org (http://www.healthystuff.org/) tested
dog toys in 2011 and found antimony, arsenic,
cadmium, chromium and mercury toxins in toys designed to be chewed, tugged and
carried in the mouth by our pets.
Here is
the sad news…the truth…our USA dog toy industry isn’t regulated – not like how
we regulate children’s toys.
According
to the American Pet Products Association, see: http://americanpetproducts.org/law/lawlibrary_article.asp?topic=62 there is no specific regulatory
requirements for pet toys other than general safety requirements for
consumer products which would be overseen by the Consumer
Products Safety Commission.
Always
check the label to see where a toy was made.
It might be in very tiny print. Sometimes
they are distributed by a US company, but actually manufactured in China.
It is a
shame that there is no recall of pet toys, despite the finding of excessive
lead, cadmium and other toxic materials in
Chinese made products. Children’s toys
have been recalled due to being poorly constructed with small parts that
children can bite off, swallow and choke on – not so for pet toys.
Rawhide pet chews are treated with the
cancer causing agent, formaldehyde. Cheaply
made toys can break into bits and pieces land up in your dog’s stomach. This can
cause obstruction, serious problems, discomfort and even death.
What’s a pet owner to do?
Read and educate
yourself. Check out: the American Pet
Products website at: http://americanpetproducts.org/law/lawlibrary_article.asp?topic=62
.
Check out the Consumer Protection
website at http://www.cpsc.gov/. I dare
you to find any regulatory rules regarding pet toys.
Check out: USPIRG.org Disturbing here is that the focus is on huge
numbers of CHILDREN’S TOYS FROM OVERSEAS THAT WERE RECALLED (2012 article).
Check out this local news article at: http://new102.cbslocal.com/2013/03/13/jacis-cleveland-canine-and-kitty-corner-pet-product-toxicity/
that talks about what is in our pet toys.
I’ve asked staff at Petco, Petsmart and
other major retailers what toys they have that are not made in China. Invariably, they look at me like I asked them
if they had toys from Mars.
Pet products are one of the biggest and fastest growing industries
in the USA. Over the last few years, and with the recession, layoffs and people’s
concerns about their future, many Americans changed their lifestyle habits, nesting,
vacationing at home and trying to exercise restraint in purchasing habits.
However, the dog product industry has
been booming. It makes sense, thinking
about it; if you are home with your family and pet, you are going to focus on
them and their needs.
It is a big money industry.
Well, you can shop elsewhere. You can take your money to a manufacturer
that produces safe dog products. You are
allowed to ask, “where are your products made?”
“What safeguards do you have in place?”
“Why don’t you have American made products?” “What do you test for as a distributor?” You can expect an answer; don’t be afraid,
this again, is a big money industry and you contribute to the bottom line.
You can shop on-line, you can find out
what dog toys are made in the USA or you can make your own dog toys.
Isn’t your dog worth it? Mine is.
Bark, woof and get up your moxy for your pet.
I am attaching a Post separately that
highlights companies that make their dog toys here in the USA or that have dog
toys available that are manufactured and distributed here. Remember, as a dog owner, you have power to
change things.