November 24, 2005
To whom it may concern:
I have just read an article that was on my local news stations web site about Greenies, and I am NOT happy with what I've learned.
My dog, Bootsie, was my pride and joy. I loved her as much as a good parent loves their human child. Bootsie LOVED Greenies. Feeling they were safe, I allowed her to have them as a treat every few days.
Bootsie had problems with her liver. Because of this, I had to be very careful with everything that she ingested. I had to practice strict control over what she was allowed to eat both at her regular meal times and what she was given as a treat or snack. Giving her the wrong things would mean over-taxing her liver and the progression of deterioration to her liver. Loving her as I did, I did everything I knew to do in order to prevent any damage.
One of the things about Greenies that made me feel comfortable giving them to Bootsie was that the packaging claims Greenies are 100% digestible. The KIRO News stations report, however, says that you're own company spokeswoman stated that Greenies are actually "85% digestible".
I AM FURIOUS BEYOND WORDS AT THIS!
Had I for ONE MOMENT KNOWN that Greenies were not what your own packaging claims them to be, I would NOT have given them to my dog! (But, then, I guess that's your bottom line, isn't it.) To make matters worse, I feel it quite safe to assume that if your spokeswoman says the digestibility is at 85%, that this is a conservative number, and the percentage is more then likely even LOWER.
I do not blame your company or your product for my Bootsie's passing away last December from end stage cirrhosis. HOWEVER, I will never know if my giving Greenies to my dog may have WORSENED her condition and hastened her eventual passing away.
THIS IS UNFORGIVEABLE and UNACCEPTABLE!
Lastly, I am troubled by this portion of the report I read:
"Company officials with Greenies declined a request for an on-camera interview. They sent a statement expressing sadness over all the dogs in the investigation."
The very fact that your company declined an interview leaves me (and probably the majority of consumers) to feel you declined because you have something to hide or because you know you may step into water reaching far over your head if you were interviewed. Face it, people with nothing to hide would not have declined, but rather, would have relished the opportunity to set matters straight.
I will NEVER again recommend Greenies to anyone else, nor will I recommend your company as a whole, due to the fact that dishonesty has been a part of your business plan.
Paula Owens
Everett, Washington
otiamaria@aol.com
The above letter was emailed to Greenies today, and the article I am referring to can be found here:
http://www.kirotv.com/investigations/5325021/detail.html
Or watch the Video Report here:
http://www.kirotv.com/video/5330356/detail.html
Also see the SNOPES page that references this report:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/greenies.asp
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