User comments on Hartz Mountain products

Below is a comment that a user left for the last post. I felt it was so good it should be given it's own posting, as the brand recognition of Hartz led me since childhood to think it was an acceptable brand and a "trusted name". Thanks to the user who wrote in.

"Hartz Mountain has not been a "trusted name" for decades. In the late 1980's their flea and tick product, Blockade, was taken off the market because of an incredible number of animal injuries and deaths.

The EPA has required labeling revisions on their products on multiple occasions and in 2005 the EPA, probably the most lax oversight agency in the federal government, issued a Cancellation Order on Hartz's cat and kitten products containing exactly the same ingredients in precisely the same volumes as their dog products contain today. Hartz was forced to remove their cat products from the marketplace. However, the same pesticide neurotoxins in their dog and puppy products are injuring and killing animals and devastating families in unacceptable numbers.

Their reformulated cat and kitten products continue to injure and kill and were named in the EPA Public Advisory issued in May 2009. Hartz has also had senior executives indicted and brought before grand juries on unrelated issues but another example of their corporate culture.

Hartz has had a deplorable safety record and reprehensible corporate reputation for many years. Sumitomo continued to use the Hartz name because it had great brand recognition and unfortunately the vast majority of the American public still has no idea of the damage and devastation this appalling corporation is causing to this day."

What is Hartz Mountain Corporation?

As I had posted Leonard Stern as the CEO of Hartz Mountain Corporation, I was dutifully corrected by an anonymous poster. Since the history and corporate position of Hartz Pet Products is muddled, lets try and sort some things out for the 100+ people that visit this site daily.

Max & Gustav Stern started the Hartz Mountain brand in 1932 by selling bird food. The business quickly expanded as the Stern's began selling small animals and their associated supplies. Eventually the product was introduced into markets and grocery stores in the United States and U.K.

After 75 years of ownership, the Hartz Mountain Corporation was sold to investment group J.W. Childs. It was decided to keep the Hartz Mountain Corporation name. In 2004 Hartz Mountain Corporation was sold to the Sumitomo Corporation, a giant corporate congolmerate that specializes in heartwarming industries such as aerospace, defense and industrial pesticides.

Here's a bit from the Sumitomo Chemical page:

"Today, the Sumitomo Chemical Group includes over 100 subsidiaries and affiliates operating in six business sectors - basic chemicals, petrochemicals and plastics, fine chemicals, IT-related chemicals, agricultural chemicals, and pharmaceuticals - and supplies a broad range of products for global markets."

Why would a company that manufactures industrial pesticides care to take on ownership of a company focused on the well-being of pets?

The answer is Summit VetPharm. Taken from the website: http://www.summitvetpharm.com

"Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA) announced the appointment of Mr. Koichi Isohata as Chairman of its newest subsidiary, animal healthcare company, Summit VetPharm, LLC. Mr. Isohata joins the Summit VetPharm management team after spending over 15 years as head of Sumitomo's Household Insecticides and Agrochemical business in Tokyo, and serving as general manager for the Petcare business in the Life Science Division, Chemical and Electronics Business Unit, in charge of the establishment of Summit VetPharm."

It seems another way of profiting from grossly undertested industrial pesticides is to use them to create Flea & Tick drops, spray and baths and pawn such products off to unsuspecting consumers.
Most people would not pick up the bottle if the flea & tick spray came from a company like Sumitomo Chemical.

Hartz Mountain is merely a formerly trusted name corporate branding mechanism sustained by recognition that is being used to disguise industrial strength pesticides as usable pet products.

Here is a great video from KNBC. How can these companies deny that the products are dangerous?

Almost a year

It's been almost a year since my incident with the toxic poison that is Hartz Flea & Tick spray. Almost a year since my complaints fell on deaf ears. I have sent written letters, veterinarian complaints, bills that remained unpaid and other evidence of their product almost killing the dog. I have received no replies, no compensation and no compassion from all of the heartless animal abusers employed by Hartz Mountain Industries.

William Ecker, the President of Hartz Mountain Corporation is guilty of animal cruelty and neglect on a grand scale. Hartz does not give a damn for your animals or well being, they only want your money. He enjoys the plush life and corporate benefit while the company he leads produces products that BURN THE SKIN OFF OF INNOCENT ANIMALS.

I see Dr. Marta Draper (Dr. Pet Death), Hartz Vice President of Research & Development pops up on some sites defending her toxic blends with the shielding of clueless standards of the EPA.

I have a challenge for you Dr. Marta Draper. IF you even own animals, let's apply Hartz Flea & Tick Medication to them. Let's see how long they last. If you are so confident of your product you shouldn't have any problem risking having your animals uncontrollably seizure and convulse, gasp for air all while the skin melts from their back.

I continue to maintain this site to put let the world know about what a heartless money driven death factory Hartz Mountain Industries is. It is almost fall, so please research natural remedies for flea control as opposed to OTC solutions from Hartz, Sargeant's or any other producer of this poison.

Make no mistake, Hartz Pet Products will KILL your pet. They are fused with industrial pesticides which are merely tested on your helpless animal.