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Call Kurtis Investigates: Congressman Slams FDA For Dog Treat Inaction

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- A federal lawmaker criticized the Food and Drug Administration Tuesday, days after a Call Kurtis investigation revealed new details about dog treats that could be dangerous or even deadly.

"We need to get those products off the market," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who reported the total complaints had surpassed 2,000.

A May Call Kurtis investigation uncovered the FDA had received 530 complaints of dog illness or death from ingesting Chinese jerky treats since November, when the agency issued a caution -- but never named any brands or issued a recall.

"What does the FDA need to know other than the fact that you have 2,000 animals that have been killed or seriously injured by these products," he said. "And yet they're still on the market."

The FDA has been investigating chicken jerky dog treats since 2007, which the agency first issued a cautionary warning to dog owners.

Rep. Kucinich blasted the FDA for not taking further action to protect consumers, as dogs continue to experience illness or die.

"People are unsuspecting. They're buying these treats and their dogs are still getting sick," he said.

Janie Mabry's dog Benji died earlier this year after eating the jerky treats made in China.

"Benji was like a member of the family," she said.

Steve Herman's dog Penelope almost experienced the same thing, he said. He's spent more than $4,000 to nurse her back after kidney failure -- which a veterinarian noted occurred after "ingestion of jerky treats."

The FDA quietly updated dog owners on it's information page this month -- four months after the inspections took place -- noting it conducted "inspections of several facilities in China," but that Chinese officials wouldn't cooperate.

The reports, posted on the FDA's website, note China won't allow the FDA to test samples, instead requiring "having the samples analyzed in a Chinese laboratory."

Rep. Kucinich said the FDA wasn't living up to its role in protecting consumers, and called for a ban on the importing of the controversial treats.

"Either they do the job or get out of the way and bring somebody in to the FDA who can protect the public interest," he said. "It is heartbreaking when you see perfectly healthy animals fed dog treats and the next thing that happens they become seriously ill and they die."

In documents reviewed by CBS13, the FDA indicated "concerns about the record-keeping practices of several of the inspected firms."

The Chinese government claims it stopped allowing exports from one factory accused of falsifying documents tired to the ingredient Glycerin.

"I think they should make, whoever made [the treats] eat them themselves," Mabry said.

Kucinich asked the Inspector General to investigate the FDA's handling of the case Aug. 24.

The FDA maintained it cannot legally recall a product based on complaints alone and needs to know exactly what is making these dogs sick.

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