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Popular flea and tick collar, Seresto, contains two active pesticides, has killed at least one dog, and has been linked to the deaths of 1,698 other pets, a new lawsuit claims.
A class action lawsuit was filed against Elanco Animal Health Incorporated for its Seresto flea and tick collar in a federal court in California this week, with plaintiffs Faye Hemsley and Aitana Vargas alleging the company misrepresented the safety of its products.
The lawsuit comes after a joint investigation into the Seresto flea and tick collar by USA TODAY and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. Journalists discovered that, since Seresto flea and tick collars were introduced in 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received incident reports of at least 1,698 pet deaths related to the product and done nothing about it, as reported by Top Class Actions.
If you bought a Seresto flea and tick collar for your pet, you may have a legal claim whether your pet got sick or not.
Since the report was released, a Congressional subcommittee called on Elanco to voluntarily recall the flea and tick collars, but the company declined to do so, saying there was no evidence that the collar was to blame for the animals’ deaths, USA Today reports.
In the recently filed class action lawsuit, Hemsley blames the two active pesticides in the collar, imidacloprid and flumethrin, for the death of her 13-year-old terrier mix Tigger Shadow, saying the dog died suddenly one month after purchasing the collar.
Vargas alleges in the class action lawsuit her 10-year-old Siberian Husky developed cancer on her neck, where the collar had been placed for two months.
“Had Plaintiffs known the Seresto collar Products would cause, or increase the likelihood of causing, serious injury and/or death, they would not have purchased them,” the lawsuit states.
Since the collar hit the market in 2012, the EPA received more than 75,000 incident reports related to the collars, including 1,698 pet deaths and nearly 1,000 involving human harm.
Between 2013 and 2018, 907 incidents were reported with humans, 19 of these incidents deemed severe. One included a case of a 12-year-old boy who slept in a bed with a dog wearing a collar who started having seizures and vomiting and had to be hospitalized. Karen McCormack, a retired EPA employee, told USA Today the Seresto collar had received the most incident reports of any pesticide pet product she had seen.
The EPA, which is in charge of regulating products that contain pesticides, had known about the incidents and risk for years, but had not informed the public, the lawsuit alleges.
The collar was developed by German pharmaceutical company Bayer and sold to Elanco in 2020. Elanco spokesperson Colleen Dekker said the company had sold more than 25 million collars and an incident report rate of .3 percent, and it had investigated all the reports of death and found no link to the active pesticides, USA Today reports.
“There’s nothing that suggests it’s the active ingredients in the collar that’s at fault,” Dekker reportedly said.
The class action lawsuit is looking to represent anyone living in California who purchased the Seresto flea and tick collar for their dog or cat since March 22, 2017, along with anyone living in Pennsylvania who purchased the collar for their dog or cat since March 22, 2015.
The plaintiffs are seeking classification of the Class, injunctive relief, damages, legal fees, and a jury trial.
Did you know flea and tick collars contained pesticides? Let us know in the comments section below!
The plaintiffs are represented by George V. Granade and Michael R. Reese of Reese LLP, Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, P.C., and Steffan Keeton of The Keeton Firm LLC.
The Seresto Flea and Tick Collar Class Action Lawsuit is Vargas, et al. v. Elanco Animal Health Incorporated., Case No. 2:21-cv-02506-CBM-KS, in the U.S. District Court Central District of California Western Division.
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30 thoughts onSeresto Collars Responsible for Dog Illness, Death, Says Class Action
After lots of research, I strongly believe my dog almost was euthanized because of this collar. Since removing it, He has slowly gained mobility and can eat a drink and walk around a bit. I feel so bad that I put this on him and actually could have killed him. I have videos of him trying to walk again. the vet was terrible when I first suggested the collar, she basically blew me off and said that the collar had nothing to do with it. $800 later still no answers. But, we carry Ozzie in and out of the house faithfully to do his business, Please get this stuff off the market
My 12 year dauschand starting wearing the collar early June and now has muscle issues can’t walk or stand. ( almost like he had a seizure) Vet xray showed everything is ok and blood work shows low thryroid. Now he has blood in his stool. Not sure what is happening but he was fine prior to this other than getting older
wearing a collar who started having seizures and vomiting and had to be hospitalized…all 3 cats went blind and died….buried in my back yard..
Please add me. After using the seresto collar, my boxer Bailey developed a tumor on her right side hind leg and had seizures. Sadly, I had to put Bailey down.
Began using the collars in 2020 for our then 7yo & 4yo chocolate and yellow labs. About a year later our chocolate lab Bo developed a tumor on his neck that was inoperable, until 6 months ago it never really changed in size but we realized he began to favor his right leg and after X-ray we discovered a type of bone cancer that will inevitably spread. Today the lumps on his neck are much larger and he has a hard time eating and breathing, unfortunately we will have to say goodbye soon. Recently I have also noticed a tumor on our yellow lab Lucy in front of her back leg.
I was
Using seresto flea& tick collar on my Boston terrier he now is epilepsy has to take phenobarbital 15 mg twice a day . Vet bill and meds are high . Please add me to the class action . Thank you !
my english pointer after wearing developed cancer on her neck, where the collar and died
Please add me to the list I lost my sweet Baxter in January from colon and intestinal cancer the vet said it it was not comon for a dog to have colon cancer I asked the vet what could have caused this they told
me a chemical Baxter had a Seresto collar on him he had been wearing them for 2 years I believe with all my heart that this caused his cancer ! We spent $13 ,000 on Baxter trying to save him ! He was my Best Friend ! I miss him so much !
Please add me to the list I lost my sweet Baxter in January from colon and intestinal cancer the vet said it it was not comon for a dog to have colon cancer I asked the vet what could have caused this they told
me a chemical Baxter had a Seresto collar on him he had been wearing them for 2 years I believe with all my heart that this caused his cancer ! We spent $13 ,000 on Baxter trying to save him