EPA Investigates Hartz

I was watching a story on the news that the Hartz Mountain Corporation is in trouble with the EPA and that the flea and tick products are apparently causing safety concerns in regards to cats and have caused either death or illness in the use of these prdocuts. Apparently from the story it may be the pesticides they use and it can make the cat sick. The worst part about this is that the products are still on the shelves and not being recalled. I guess Hartz would rather ignore the issue and allow more cats to die or become ill until they do something? I don't use their products myself but figured I'd let you all know what I saw on the news.

Thank God! I work at an emergency veterinary hospital...we see tons of adverse reactions, especially to their flea product 'Control'. I wish people would spend just a little more money at the beginning and get flea/tick control at their veterinarian's office...often they're trying to save money by buying Control, but they end up spend hundreds of dollars in emergency care to save their pet's life. It's about time someone stepped in on this product.

<I was watching a story on the news that the Hartz Mountain Corporation is in trouble with the EPA and that the flea and tick products are apparently causing safety concerns in regards to cats and have caused either death or illness in the use of these prdocuts.>

I wish someone could explain this: Reports about Hartz Mountain first surfaced in the early 1970's - at least that's when I first heard about the problems - why is it still a story in 2002? Shouldn't the company have been legally forced to comply with some minimum regulation to prohibit this disaster?

There is now a class-action lawsuit being prepared against Hartz by a law firm called Faruqi and Faruqi. A story about Hartz products, plus URLs to Faruqi and other anti-Hartz Web sites, is at:
http://www.vetcentric.com/magazine/magazineArticle.cfm? ArticleID=1725

Here are some details of the Faruqi lawsuit, copied and pasted from their Web site:

NEW YORK– On November 15, 2001, the law firm of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP and Squitieri & Fearon, LLP filed the first class action lawsuit on behalf Advanced Care Brand Flea & Tick Drops for Cats (“Advanced Care Drops”) users against The Hartz Mountain Corp. (“Hartz”).

The complaint was filed on behalf of Dr. Judy VanWyk and all other consumers of Hartz Advanced Care Drops who have been injured by Defendants’ improper acts and practices. The class action complaint seeks to recover compensatory damages as well as equitable relief to permanently enjoin Defendant Hartz from the sale, manufacture and/or distribution of Advanced Care Drops and other relief.

If you would like to be involved in the action or would simply like to receive updates about the progress of this suit via e-mail, please fill out the Consumer Information Form/Questionnaire we have prepared by clicking here. If you would like to contact us directly, please send an e-mail to

(212)983-9330.

Additionally, we are investigating similar problems with other Hartz products and would also like to know about your experiences. Please keep us informed of your experiences by completing a Consumer Information Form/Questionnaire which can be found on the firm’s website at www.faruqilaw.com.