Secret dog food death deals rejected as owners consider legal action

OWNERS are rejecting the restrictive terms they must agree upon before being compensated over the death and illness of pets diagnosed with an incurable condition after eating a popular pet food.

SECRET dog food death payouts are being rejected by owners as they consider taking legal action against a pet food giant implicated in the scandal.

It comes as federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud urges state and territory governments to back a review into the nation’s multibillion-dollar self-regulated pet food industry.

Legal documents seen by the Herald Sun reveal the restrictive and confidential terms dog owners must agree to before being compensated over the death and ongoing illness of pets diagnosed with incurable megaesophagus after eating Advance Dermocare.

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The company, Mars Petcare Australia, has offered to pay up to $3000 to replace dead dogs and compensate owners’ for vet bills on the condition they forfeit their right to legal action and keep payouts secret.

And they will only reimburse the cost of a new pet if it is purchased within the next 12 months.

The legal letter also reveals compensation deals will be made at Mars’s discretion.

The clause has caused ­concern for owners, some of whom have engaged lawyers, including Slater and Gordon’s class action team.

In April, vets revealed 74 dogs were struck down with the debilitating disease after eating the food.

An owner whose dog died after eating the food said she had “serious ­reservations” about signing the agreement.

“It places the ball in their court around how much they felt they would reimburse and leaves me with no avenue for dispute,” she told the Herald Sun.

The potentially toxic dog food is among several brands blamed for making pets sick.

A cheap Woolworths brand, Baxter’s, has been heavily criticised by owners who claim their dogs have suffered vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures after eating the food.

A spokesman said the symptoms reflected “diet transitioning” issues, and the product had been tested numerous times and complied with Australian standards.

Woolworths Baxter's dog food.

Advance Dermocare dry dog food.

Mould was also discovered in a packet of Applaws dog food. A separate batch also reportedly contained pieces of plastic. The company, MPM Products, repeatedly refused to answer the Herald Sun’s calls.

There are no laws surrounding pet food manufacturing in Australia. The industry is self-regulated by a voluntary code, which does not require companies to issue public recalls over contaminated products.

The dog food deaths have sparked growing calls for ­legislation.

Dalmatian Rooney, 7, had to be put down. He lost half his body weight after eating Advance Dermocare.

Mars has admitted its premium brand may be a “significant risk factor” for a large cluster of dogs diagnosed with the incurable disease, megaesophagus.

It has also for the first time indicated batches produced after July 2017 were to blame.

At least 19 dogs — including a Victoria Police squad dog — have died since eating the food.

Veterinary experts are continuing to test the food and expect to hand down their final results next month.

Australians spend almost $3.8 billion feeding their pets each year.

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@AneekaSimonis