Petco Pulls All Chinese-Made Treats After Death Of 1,000 Dogs

<p> <a class="checked-link" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeepersmedia/14790232762/sizes/l/">jeepersmedia/flickr/cc by 2.0</a><span></span> </p>
<p> <a class="checked-link" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeepersmedia/14790232762/sizes/l/">jeepersmedia/flickr/cc by 2.0</a><span></span> </p>

In response to reports of thousands of sick pets, Petco has removed all Chinese-made dog and cat treats from its shelves, according to the AP. Petco had announced in May 2014 that it would end sales of the snacks. As of Monday, the company told the AP, it had done so.

Between 2007 and May 2014, the Food and Drug Administration received thousands of complaints regarding the Chinese treats - 5,600 sick dogs, 50 cats, three humans and 1,000 canine deaths. An inquiry has not yet determined "an exact cause-and-effect" relationship between the Chinese jerky treats and pets who fell ill, according to the agency. But pet owners who feed their animals jerky snacks should keep an eye out for vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and increased urination or water consumption, the FDA said. Consumers can file reports of safety issues at the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal.

PetSmart, which also announced it would remove the snacks in May, confirmed with The Dodo it plans to pull all pet treats made in China off their shelves by March 2015.

Petco did not immediately respond to The Dodo's request for comment. This post has been updated to include information from PetSmart.