Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 7

Part 7 – Cynthia Elizarraras, Petco’s Third Party Claim Specialist, Passes The Proverbial Buck. 

If Petco would simply address my requests to them regarding the product, the misleading description, and requiring that the description contains a warning, I would not be concerned with proving anything to a “claims specialist”.   Although being reimbursed for my current and future expenses is the right thing for Petco to do, there are other pet owners who, like me, had no idea that a $5.00 product would cause their pet such psychological injury that they might end up spending thousands of dollars in medication and behavioral modification training over the course of the pet’s life.

Yesterday, Gracie went to the vet.  Prozac changes liver enzymes that cause jaundice and hepatocyte necrosis.  The vet favors Hemp Oil rather than Prozac and I agree.  Before starting Gracie on Hemp Oil, the vet wanted a liver panel.  I was not opposed to this.  Gracie is not yet a year old.  If her liver is being damaged from the Prozac, I want to know.  The liver panel cost was $326.00.    This cost was necessary because of the Prozac which was necessary because of the OCD, which came about due to using a laser pointer in training and to play with Gracie.

On February 8, 2024, Cynthia Elizarraras left me a voicemail.   Since January 18, 2024, I had sent her several emails and left several voicemails that were unanswered.   In her voicemail, she stated that she received the documents I sent and was forwarding them to the “vendor”.   That was it.  She did not address the questions I asked of her in my emails and voicemails. 

Cynthia Elizarraras did not identify the “vendor” and as of writing this post, she has not returned my phone call asking her for the identity.  I’ve not received any communication from the “vendor”.   So now, I have to wait to hear from the vendor who I do not know and thus, have no way to contact. 

It’s been very difficult to find who owns the Leaps and Bounds brand, which is the brand of the laser pointer that I purchased.  One source says that it’s a Petco brand, but is manufactured in China. 

Petco is selling laser pointers that fraudulently misrepresent their product through silence of the damage it can cause to pets.   By selling the product without full disclosures, Petco might be guilty of product liability and marketing defect.  “Defects in marketing deal with improper instructions and failures to warn consumers of latent dangers in the product.”   Cornell Law School

Most recently, I tweeted to Petco and although it appears on my timeline, my tweet to them does not appear on their timeline.  They might have me muted. If so, if I make a purchase at Petco or through their website and have an issue, I’ve been banned from making that issue public and having it addressed.  Based on my experience and the numerous tweets on Petco’s account, I have no reason to believe that Petco responds to customers through any other form of media including telephone.    Petco is like the laser pointer when it is turned off — I can look for them, but they are elusive. 

Pets Are More than Property

Under the law, pets are considered property.  This “property” has a longer life span than some automobiles. They are living property and mankind is served a benefit from them that goes beyond being just pets.  They work in law enforcement, the military, and as guide dogs,  service and emotional support dogs.   In general, cats and dogs require vaccinations by city ordinance or state law and are given a license as proof of vaccination.  Our governments have these requirements to keep humans and animals safe. 

Dogs and cats must be protected from “toys” that cause them injury.  There are warranty services for all types of property.  We don’t purchase warranty service for dogs — we purchase health care insurance. 

The following is one example where a dog was not treated like mere property.

Photo: Rockford Police Department

Canine Nyx was a deputized police officer with the Rockford Police Department.  Nyz had a job.  On Sunday, January 28, 2024, Nyz made the ultimate sacrifice.  

“A visitation will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 at City First Church, 5950 Spring Creek Road. A law enforcement and first responder walk-through will start at 3 p.m. followed by a celebration of Nyx’s life at 3:30 p.m.”

“Honors bestowed on police dogs killed in the line of duty are similar to that of human officers with the use of an honor guard and an End of Watch call. Nyx is also listed on the Officer Down Memorial Page as the first K-9 killed in the line of duty across the country this year.”

Laser pointer manufacturers and those stores that sell them must stop seeing our dogs and cats as mere property, without living organs, and without a brain that can be psychologically damaged by this so-call “toy”.

Next: Part  8 – Videos On Social Media of Dogs Psychologically Damaged By Laser Pointers, and Videos of Professionals and others Addressing the Issue.