Dog owners may sue pet food producer over deaths

Pet owners are eyeing legal action against a Victorian knackery after dozens of dog deaths were linked to toxic pet meat derived from horses.

Maggie is among more than 60 dogs that fell seriously ill after eating contaminated meat.

A class action is being considered against a knackery whose horse meat pet food production has been linked to more than 20 dog deaths.

Law firm Maurice Blackburn is representing a number of clients whose dogs were among 24 who died and another 44 left seriously ill after eating food from the Maffra and District Knackery.

Traces of indoscipine, a toxin, was found to have resulted in the dog deaths after they consumed horses trucked to Victoria from the Northern Territory in May. Indoscipine is found in particular plant species and, when eaten by grazing animals like horses, accumulates in their body tissue and can remain for months.

It can cause severe liver damage when meat from those animals is then eaten by dogs, which are particularly vulnerable. Indoscipine is undetectable without specialised laboratory testing, Agriculture Victoria says.

Labrador Hodge died after eating toxic dog food.

It comes from drought-resistant legumes enjoyed by cattle, horses and camels.

The recent outbreak is the first time it has been reported in Victoria and the only two previous cases nationwide which resulted in canine deaths were in 1984 and 2009.

Dog-owner Laura, whose 13-year-old labrador called Hodge died after eating meat now under investigation, said she was devastated.

Laura said Hodge was still fit and active before his sudden death last month after a week of illness.

“It’s pretty devastating,” she said. “We were still going on our long walks.” Many of the other dogs which perished were greyhounds with some owners losing more than one hound.

Laura is one of the owners who have contacted Maurice Blackburn about taking legal action.

The firm’s senior associate Charles Noonan said Maffra District Knackery was responsible for ensuring its products did not contain toxins like indoscipine. He said the firm was acting pro bono for clients.

“Manufacturers of dog food have obligations to their customers to ensure these toxins are not present in their products and, just like any other product, that they are fit for their intended purpose,” Mr Noonan said.

Agriculture Victoria has warned raw pet meat from the Maffra District Knackery between May 31 and July 3 should not be fed to dogs.

Maffra District Knackery was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Dog owners may sue pet food producer over deaths