An Atlanta TV station also did a report on lead in pet toys. They sent several to an accredited lab and found high levels. They showed testing with the kits too. Older pet toys did not show lead.

Has anyone seen where any cat toys have been tested?  I assume they have the same problems.   

I bought those tennis balls in the video for my dogs a few years ago at a big box pet supply store.  They have paw prints on them. 

I sniffed them and they stunk of a chemical smell so I threw them away.  They also sell stinky tennis balls at flea markets and swap meets. 

Instead I buy actual tennis balls rather than these toys.  Now going to have to check on those, too, although they don't stink. 

Actually my dogs have taken to playing with real soft balls under supervision (the kind used in sports)  They are big, so my dogs can't swallow them even with their big mouths.  The cats play with them, too.  Another thing to check on.  There's no end in sight.

We have more reports of lead being discovered in pet products other than toys.  Here's the link to the Itchmo blog story which comes from an Albuquerque TV station who decided to look into it.  They found lead in pet dishes and in the white paint of a bird cage sold by PetSmart:

http://www.itchmo.com/lab-finds-high-lead-levels-in-pet-products-4060

http://www.koat.com/news/14728879/detail.html

KOAT-TV November 29, 2007

"A yellow dog ball did not show any lead levels, but a green ceramic pet bowl did test positive for lead.some results. A white ceramic pet bowl that came with a warning ("the materials used as decorations on the exterior of this product contain lead") yielded a stronger positive result, as did a bird cage.  

"To determine how dangerous the levels of lead were, Target 7 took the two ceramic pet bowls and the small bird cage to Assaigai Analytical Environmental Labs for further testing.

"John Biava, vice president and lab operations manager, confirmed the presence of lead in all three samples. He said the lead levels his lab analyzes are based on the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard of 600 parts per million (ppm). Those safety standards are based on lead in paint.

"Biava said the green bowl showed a small amount of lead at 62 ppm, but the white bowl tested at 990 milligrams per kilogram (milligrams per kilogram is the metric equivalent of parts per million).

"Regarding the bird cage, Biava said, " We found just over 8, 200 ppm, so that's over 10 times the level of lead allowed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission."
 
"A spokesperson in the pet industry told Target 7 there's no acceptable amount of lead content published for pet products.

"Dr. Michael Melloy, a veterinarian at El Rinco Pet Hospital, said a bird cage with a lead reading of 8,200 ppm could be seriously detrimental to a pet's health.

""Birds are really profoundly affected by lead, because it accumulates in the gizzard -- which is a muscular part of the stomach -- stays there for a long period of time and it can be absorbed over time and can really cause serious intoxication," Melloy said.

"Target 7 contacted Petsmart, the maker of the bird cage, to tell them about the lab test results. A representative with the company told Target 7 their quality assurance team, as well as a third - party lab, are currently testing the bird cages. The representative said the comp any expects to have their results in a week and a half.

"A spokesperson with the Food and Drug Administration told Target 7 the FDA would look into the lead levels of ceramic pet bowls.

"If you want to make sure your pet's bowls are free of lead, Melloy recommended stainless steel bowls or those made from high- impact plastic."

http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/11/21/columnists/ask_alex/1028033.txt

Herald-Review.com (Central IL) November 21, 2007

"Many pet toys are not safe, just as many children's toys have been proven unsafe. But, unlike human toys that are tested by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, pet toys are not specifically tested by any organization. Therefore, precautions need to be taken.

"To date, there have been no scientific studies to determine how lead from toys might affect our pets.   The American Veterinary Medical Association has not issued a position statement in this matter.

"Speaking for Alex this week is Dr. Larry Baker, who practices small animal medicine and veterinary dentistry at 2800 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Decatur."

It looks like we need the pet industry, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the AVMA to begin working on drafting some standards. 

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/09/pet_food_recalls77.html

ConsumerAffairs.com September 23, 2007

Pet Industry Agrees on Need for Toxicity Standards

"The president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association said his members -- who represent more than 900 pet product makers, importers, and livestock suppliers worldwide -- would welcome such standards.

"“They’re looking for a benchmark that everyone can follow,” said Bob Vetere, president of the non-profit organization. “Maybe what we need is to have everyone sit down at a table and talk about what makes sense.

""It’s not going to be easy to find an answer, but it’s a process that has to start. The CPSC is certainly somebody that needs to be sitting at that table, and we’d (APPMA) certainly be willing to work with them and help them on this issue,” he said.

"The CPSC, however, said its agency currently has no regulatory control over pet products.

"“We only have jurisdiction over a pet-related product (that is not food), if evidence is presented that the product has put the safety of consumers at risk,” said spokesman Scott Wolfson. He did not address the potential danger to children and adults exposed to the pet toys.

"Until that happens, Vetere said members of the APPMA will triple-checking their products to be sure they’re tested for lead and other toxins.

http://www.appma.org/

American Pet Product Manufacturers' Association. 

If you take a look at their membership, you're going to see some names we're not fond of:

http://www.appma.org/member/member_directory.asp

Shanghai Bestro Enterprises, Inc.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia7203.html

Salmonella Detention List under Shanghai Bestro and Pingyang Pet Product.  These are the chicken jerky treats Wal-Mart found trace amounts of melamine in and has said it will no longer do business with the company.  Their website at: http://www.dogchews.com had the plug pulled on it shortly after the problem with the treats was announced; they are still offline.

http://www.itchmo.com/wal-mart-removes-bestro-chicken-jerky-strips-after-dog-death-2321

http://www.itchmo.com/melamine-found-in-wal-mart-bestros-chicken-jerky-strips-for-dogs-2414
http://www.itchmo.com/pet-treat-manufacturers-to-develop-feeding-guidelines-3704

Wen Zhou Peidi Pet Products Co., Ltd.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/9/ora_oasis_i_72.html

OASIS Refusals for September 2007 under Wenzhou Peidi and 
Jiang Su Peidi.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2007/ENF01021.html

FDA Enforcement Report September 12, 2007 under Shanghai Peidi for Dingo brand.  Original recall was March 30, 2007.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/10/ora_oasis_i_72.html

OASIS Refusals for October 2007 under Jiang Su Peidi.

Pingyang Kongying Pet Products Co., Ltd.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia7203.html

Salmonella Detention List.

Ningbo Sincere Leisure Products Co., Ltd.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/6/ora_oasis_i_72.html

OASIS Refusal for June 2007; the charge here is in regard to omissions on their label--not of adulteration.

Waggin' Train Worldwide, LLC

Smokehouse Dog Treats

Pet 'n Shape / Pet Ventures, Inc.

All sellers of MIC chicken jerky treats--PetSmart pulled Smokehouse and Pet 'n Shape from their shelves for a while a few months ago.

http://www.itchmo.com/smokehouse-brand-dog-treats-pulled-from-petsmart-shelves-2869/all-comments/

http://www.itchmo.com/petsmart-pulls-pet-n-shape-chik-n-rings-dog-treats-from-shelves-3002

As you go through the list, you'll also find the usuals from PFI and AAFCO as members of APPMA also.

Since APPMA seems willing to agree that we need some standards for non-food pet items, it looks like this might be one of the places to start.  Have seen nothing on the APPMA website re: lead in non-food pet products-nothing more recent from them than the September 23, 2007 response to ConsumerAffairs above, with regard to setting lead standards.

Since they don't test for anything until it is exposed as being an ingredient,I would say they are not. Remember the acetaminophen,wasn't til test results started getting noticed that they tested for it.

Have to also be careful of the steel pet bowls, dishes. Recently read that some contain high levels of lead. What is this a lil lead will make you dead time? I have noticed that my stainless steel bowls I use for the dog (some are duller than others) so makes me wonder if they contain lead? Might just throw those out and find different ones to replace them with.