Class Action Suits Increase as More than 75,000 Complaints of Pet Injury and Death Reported to EPA

NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A Dec. 8, 2011 press release issued by East Brunswick, N.J. law firm Green & Associates, LLC announcing additional class action suits against makers of pesticide-based "spot-on" (topical) flea and tick products has prompted Naples, Fla.-based Ark Naturals CEO Susan Weiss to recommend pet owners to use a natural botanical alternative to effectively control fleas and ticks.

"The Green Associates' press release was alarming and frightening at the same time," said Ms. Weiss, whose Ark Naturals company has been marketing natural pet products for 16 years, including Flea Flicker! Tick Kicker!, a formula developed recently as a natural, botanical alternative to chemical pesticides in controlling fleas and ticks.

Fleas and ticks are a way of life for dogs and cats but controlling them is a matter of choice, and the pesticide solution seems to be wrought with serious problems, said Ms. Weiss.

Reports of dangerous side effects associated with spot-on flea and tick products date back to 2000 when the Natural Resources Defense Council released a report called "Poisons on Pets: Health Hazards from Flea and Tick Products." The report revealed a link between chemicals commonly used in flea and tick products and serious health problems in both people and pets.

More recently a 2008 study by the Center for Public Integrity reported at least 1,600 pet deaths related to spot-on treatments with pyrethroids were reported to the EPA over the last five years, according to an analysis of EPA pesticide incident exposure data by the center. The EPA assigns risk levels to all pesticides for their potential dangers to humans and some flea and tick products contain chemicals, specifically permethrins, which are "likely to be carcinogenic to humans."

Moreover, the Center reported that pyrethroid spot-ons also account "for more than half of 'major' pesticide pet reactions reported to EPA over the last five years - that is, those incidents involving serious medical reactions such as brain damage, heart attacks, and violent seizures. In contrast, non-pyrethroid spot-on treatments accounted for only about six percent of all major incidents."

Ms. Weiss said that the recent New Jersey class action suits claim the EPA has done nothing to change the advertising, marketing or labeling of pesticide-based flea and tick products to alert pet owners of the possible serious side-effects, which could include shivering, salivating, dilated pupils, vomiting, tremors and skin irritation.

"Our natural botanical Flea Flicker! Tick Kicker! is labeled as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) ingredients by the EPA and FDA. It is easy to apply and leaves a mild, fresh smell. You simply spray on a light application, massage into pet's coat, and it starts to work immediately to repel and kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes."

Nancy Scanlan, DVM, Executive Director of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and past president of the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association, said she has long been aware of the problems associated with the chemical and pesticide-based flea and tick products.

"I prefer natural botanicals over pesticides for treating fleas and ticks and there are a number of good natural products that work without harsh side effects," said Dr. Scanlan. "Herbal flea and tick products tend to be safer than pharmaceutical or pesticide flea and tick products, but all products that are formulated to rid pets of fleas and ticks pose some percentage of risk."

As a way of doing business Ark Naturals provides a full disclosure of its Flea Flicker! Tick Kicker! product and is one of the few, if not the only company, that includes a "cautionary statement" on its website http://www.arknaturals.com.

"The pet's guardian should always process the overall health and or age of their dog or cat. Both issues factor into the safety of using our product as well as any other type of product in the flea and tick category," said Ms. Weiss. "Remember at the end of the day you are your pet's guardian.  Your four-legged guys are counting on you to make the best decision."

Contact: John Eccleston, Tail Wag Media, 845.353.2685, johneccleston@tailwagmedia.com

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Ark Naturals

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