They don't make this easy, do they?

Here is the place to submit your comments, its Docket No. FDA-2008-N-0546:

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480a741c2

LOL 3cat, who's that?    just kidding   

How awesome! Thanks so much for posting this 3Cat.

I just added my comments (didn't check to see if there was a view all comments button on the page). In brief:

Under "Other Parties Reported to"
--Was the pet food/feed company in question contacted about this problem?
--Pet food/feed company's actions/response to the problem?
-- file/reference number (if any)
-- name(s) of contact person(s) spoken to

Under "Veterinarian Information"
-- file/reference number (if any)

For the "Attach file" section, please ensure image file formats are enabled for those wishing to upload pictures of food in question as many times a visual can assist in the investigation.

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#docketDetail?R=FDA-2008-N-0546

PUBLIC SUBMISSION As of: January 04, 2010
Tracking No. 80a74c8a
Comments Due: January 29, 2010

Docket: FDA-2008-N-0546
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Electronic Data Collection Using MedWatchPlus Portal and Rational Questionnaire

Comment On: FDA-2008-N-0546-0009
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Pet Food Early Warning Recall Rational Questionnaire as Part of the MedWatchPlus

Document: FDA-2008-N-0546-0015
Don Earl - Comment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Submitter Information
Organization: Pet Food Products Safety Alliance

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Comment
The questionnaire should also ask for a timeline to onset of symptoms. For example, vomiting occurred half
an hour after consuming the food, abdominal cramps occurred two hours later, etc.. Knowing when it happened is
as important as knowing what happened, as time to onset of symptoms is often characteristic to specific toxins
or food borne illnesses.

It would also be helpful to provide a place for pet owners to provide information on any lab work performed by
their veterinarian. Most lab work is reported in the form of user friendly graphs/charts, which identify areas where
values are high or low. While the information is typically reported in code form, such as "ALT", "WBC", etc., if a
pet owner has the information available, it's information that would otherwise be difficult or time consuming for the
FDA to acquire. A place on the form to report abnormal values, even if the pet owner doesn't recognize the code,
would be information that would be useful to the FDA.

I would also suggest that it should be mandatory for pet food companies to fill out the forms on any consumer
complaints communicated directly to the pet food company or retailer. A consumer suspecting problems with a
product is more likely to report it to the company than they are to look up contact information for the FDA.
(emphasis mine)

A substantial effort to put veterinarians in the loop should also be initiated. Too often veterinarians overlook the
possibility a health problem is associated with pet foods. Worse yet, they are often unaware even when a recall
has been announced. By all rights, veterinarians should be the first line of defense in reporting suspected problems,
rather than the last to know. Veterinarians should be encouraged, or required, to report any incidents that may be
connected to pet foods. On average, for the past ten years, a pet food recall is announced about every 4 months.
Increased awareness of a problem that is virtually endemic is essential among medical professionals.

NOTE WELL: COMMENTS ARE DUE BY JANUARY 29, 2010
To make a comment:
Read the full document at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-30872.htm

Next go to http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#searchResults?Ne=11+8+8053+8098+8074+8066+8084+1&Ntt=FR+Doc.+E9-30872&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=0
in the document list (described inside the box towards the bottom of the page) and click on ‘Submit a Comment’.  Complete the information and type your comment in the box provided; click ‘Submit’.

For some reason, the comments I posted on the 1st have not showed up yet.

Mine haven't shown up either. Hope they received them.

Oh my! All this could be wonderful, and I am sure it is, if it can give petowners a voice, an effective voice.  However, as catbird said, they don't make it easy, do they!!

Just after reading this thread, let alone visiting the links, I personally am absolutely exhausted.  It is possible, that although I "used to" have a high IQ, and was able to earn an MA degree, my intelligence level has been plummeting without my realizing it.  It could be my age!    I find even reading about it all, quite debilitating, all the legal, or political speak is exhausting to wade through, at least for me.

I cannot face even trying to deal with it tonight.  Bless all of you who are better equipped and more intelectually energetic than I am.

I would not be surprised if they were not deliberately trying to wear us down mentally and discourage us from even trying to use this system.
But I have had a hard day <sigh> and will take another look tomorrow.  Really think I am suffering from diminished capacity at the moment.

Bless you all who can deal with this for the sake of our dear animal friends.