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PetSafe shock collars lawsuit overview:
- Who: A dog owner is suing Radio Systems, the manufacturer of PetSafe shock collars.
- Why: The plaintiff says the company falsely markets the collars as safe and harmless to use on animals, when they in fact harm pets.
- Where: The PetSafe shock collar lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.
Radio Systems markets its PetSafe shock collars as being safe and harmless, when they actually harm pets physically and psychologically, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Steven Hernandez filed the class action complaint against Radio Systems Corporation Oct. 21 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
According to the lawsuit, Radio Systems makes PetSafe shock collars and markets them as being “safe” and “harmless”. The shock collars deliver electric shocks to pets via a collar worn around their necks.
“In fact, the use of electric shocks is gravely dangerous to the pets’ physical and psychological well-being,” the lawsuit states.
In Hernandez’ case, he says he used the collar on his dog until he noticed a sticky residue and foul smell coming from his dog’s neck.
“He removed the Shock Collar from his dog and saw that a patch of fur was missing from his dog’s neck,” the lawsuit states. “His veterinarian identified holes in his dog’s neck that coincided with the placement of the inserts in the Shock Collar Product.”
Radio Systems used misleading language to conceal reality of shock collars, lawsuit alleges
To conceal the true nature of the shock collars, Radio Systems uses euphemisms to describe what being electrocuted by a shock collar feels like for a pet, the lawsuit states.
Among the most popular terms that it uses to falsely describe a painful electric shock are “static correction,” “surprise,” “tickle,” and “stimulation,” it says.
On the product’s packaging and website, Radio Systems prominently displays false claims that the collars have been scientifically proven safe, and are recommended by veterinarians and professional dog trainers, the lawsuit states.
Instead, there are hundreds of documented cases that reveal the use of shock collars can cause pets severe injuries, including skin ruptures, bruising, inflammations, burns and infections, the lawsuit states.
The shock collars also lead to psychological stress, anxiety, and depression caused by the repeated painful shocks, the lawsuit states.
The plaintiff is looking to represent anyone who purchased a collar in California.
He’s suing under California consumer and business laws and seeking certification of the class action, an order preventing Radio Systems from labeling the products as safe, financial restitution, fees, costs and a jury trial.
In September, Bayer was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it continues to market that its Seresto flea and tick collars are safe for pets even after tens of thousands of pet injuries and more than a thousand deaths.
Do you have a PetSafe shock collar? Let us know what you think of these allegations in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by Amber L. Schubert, Robert C. Schubert and Willem F. Jonckheer of Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP.
The Radio Systems class action lawsuit is Steven Hernandez v. Radio Systems Corporation, Case No. 5:22-cv-01861 in the U.S. District Court Central District of California Eastern Division.
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28 thoughts onPetSafe shock collars falsely advertised as ‘harmless,’ class action claims
I have bought about 6 of these collars and this really scares me I’ve spent thousands on these and now I won’t even be using them after reading this my dog had lumps but I never thought it was the collars now I know it is
Add me please
My dog developed multiple lumps in her throat from this and suffered horribly and died as a result of these collars.
Please add me. My dog screamed everything we tryed to used the shock collar and would hide so we couldn’t put it on. I tried to return it and was told no by petsafe
add me
Add me
ADD ME, PLEASE
We bought the system with 2 collars. Our dogs are about 130 pound English Labs. First time they got zapped, my dog was yelping running down the road like a bucking bronco with me chasing him trying to get the collar off. This happened back in April, are our dogs haven’t had them on since. They are also scared to even leave the deck now and it’s been months.
Add me
Do you really think they are reading all these comments? Just saying add me will do absolutely nothing. You have to fill out your own claim form. Can you imagine them researching everyone who just says add me? lol
I think that the shock part of the collar shouls be taken out. I use mine on the sound, and vibrate only and it took my dog only a few times with the beep and she knew that meant that I wanted her to come to me. I am handicapped, so I’m not always able to go to get her. I would NEVER use the shock part, and would certainly realize if my dog was getting harmed by it. People have also been using them om children which is as sick as it gets. The shock part should be discontinued!!