Aug 30, 2008 5:21 pm US/Eastern
Pet Toy Recalled After Dogs Have Tongues Amputated
Long Island Company Says 'Pimple Ball' Has Manufacturing Defect
HAUPPAUGE, NY (CBS) ―
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This Four Paws "Pimple Ball" caused Daniel Rechelbacher's dog "Chai" to have his tongue amputated after it became caught in the toy.
Daniel Rechelbacher
A Long Island pet supply company is recalling a chew toy after some dogs suffered tongue injuries while gnawing on them.
Daniel Rechelbacher's 10-year-old lab-mix "Chai" has had a rough recovery since his tongue was sucked into a hole in a red Four Paws "pimple ball" two months ago.
An animal medical center veterinarian had to cut a hole in the ball to dislodge Chai's swollen tongue, which a week later had to be amputated.
Now the whimpering Chai is hand fed and drinking through a straw. He's also on restricted walks in his downtown Manhattan neighborhood:
"He's making big strides. I still have to feed him, but that's gotten a lot better. He drinks on his own. He has challenges with the day-to-day things," Rechelbacher says.
He says it's too painful to talk specifically about the last eight weeks, but dog lovers across the world have clearly been following Chai's progess on Rechelbacher's blog, where he's been chronicling the saga.
The blog has received more than 10,000 page views, and a YouTube video of the recovering pooch has drawn more than 180,000 views.
The company that made the balls, Four Paws, is blaming a manufacturing defect and the company is urging anyone with their pimple ball with bell, or several other items listed on its Web site, to return the items for replacement.
"I'm angry because it all could have been prevented because there was evidence of this long ago," says Rechelbacher.
Because of what Chai has been through, Rechelbacher thinks lawmakers should rethink the legislation regarding pets.
"We need to change things legislatively so that dogs are not just property," he says.
At least two other dog owners say their pets had to have their tongues amputated because of the mishaps.
To see Rechelbacher's blog,
click here.For more information on the recall,
click here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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