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Evanger's Pet Foods

Morgan of flat rock, NC December 5, 2009

On Thanksgiving day, I opened a can of Evanger's chicken casserole and as the top came back it made a loud sound - like a mini explosion. The liquid in the can shot out. I threw it away and proceeded to open another can of the chicken casserole and again it exploded and the liquid contents splattered on the wall and counter. That can was also tossed into the garbage. Neither of them looked or smelled bad.

That same day I sent an e-mail to the company telling them what had happened and giving them the information (bar code & stamp #s) on the cans. It is now closing in on two weeks and I have not heard from the Evanger company. I am not aware of any dogs becoming ill-from their food lately but surely I couldn't have been the only one to purchase food from that lot.

A response from the Evanger company would have gone a long way and I would not have found myself writing on this website to alert you regarding the lack of concern from Evangers.

Krista of Limerick, PA February 3, 2009

Krista of Limerick PA (02/03/09)
In October 2008, the three dogs I have all got very ill within an hour of eating the Evangers Hunk of Beef. They could not stand up on their hind legs, if they tried they would fall over. I have a Border Collie, a Shepard/Hound mix and a Maltese. I rushed them to the vets for an emergency appt. We weren't sure what happened. The Maltese and mix were kept over night in the hospital. The next day they came home. The following day again after eating a different can of the Evangers Hunk of Beef the same thing happened again. This time the Maltese had to be put in an oxygen chamber for breathing problems.

Luckily all my dogs seem to have recovered although I'm not sure if there are any permanent problems. Like everyone else, I also spoke with Joel Sher. He did send cans to the can company for testing, they did not find anything. He did agree to send a couple of unopened cans I have to have a sterility test performed. That also did not find anything. Although we can't figure out what is happening, I believe it has to be the dog food because of the details of my own experience but also because of what I have read from all of you.

The timing and symptoms are all to close to each other and to the FDA press release. He has said that he is sure there is nothing wrong with their food but he has agreed to reimburse me for my medical bills. I do appreciate this because I have over 2000.00 in vet bills so far. I would encourage everyone to file a complaint with the FDA since they are the ones that regulate the pet food industry.

I have over 2000 in vet bills and lost time from work, not to mention the stress of having my dogs sick.

Chris of Monrovia, MD December 30, 2008

Chris of Monrovia MD (12/30/08)
On November 19, 2008, I fed my two Pomeranians each 1/2 can of Evanger's Beef Chunks in Gravy canned dog food. Within 45 minutes they were both in critical condition with signs of complete neurological shutdown, blindness, inability to stand or walk, difficulty breathing and swallowing. They were transferred from Green Valley Animal Hospital in Ijamsville, MD where Dr. Hampton stabilized them enough and they were admitted to Greenbriar emergency hospital.

We took the can of dog food with us to both hospitals. Cinnamon was able to be released within 24 hours; Thunder remained in ICU for 2 more days. He suffered seizures on top of the toxic poisoning. He was released and readmitted twice. He is still under the care of Dr. Hampton, to this very day. He remains of 4 of the original 7 medications. He has some brain damage and will never be the same dog, but we are blessed and thankful that he is alive.

Both dogs were treated for symptoms of botulism and the food was to be sent out for testing through Greenbriar Emergency Hospital. When I called the office number listed on Evanger's Web site on November 19th, I was hung up on. When Dr. Rossi called Evanger's on November 20th, she was told by the person who answered that they would not speak another word to her because she could not prove she even was a vet.

After more than 10 emails and 6 calls, Mr. Sher finally called me at work on November 28, 2008. He spoke for 34 minutes about how any issue involving their dog food was always because of some irresponsible action of the consumer. He blew off the FDA notice saying it was only because they logged the date change at shift change at 6:00AM instead of 12:01 AM. He took no responsibility and worst of all, never even offered any comments or concerns about my dogs.

He said that he would notify his insurance company and decide what to do. I have never heard back from him and he has not responded to any additional emails: 4 of them since we spoke. Right now I have 5074.83 in vet bills, one dog is still under are and has irreversible neurological damage. All from one can of dog food!. MY stress level is off the charts, I have to cancel a trip to New York to stay home and keep a watchful eye on Thunder for seizures and dispense 7 medications. The heartless manner in how this is being handles by Joel and Holly Sher makes me sick.

I now what to hire and attorney. Instead of handling this as a responsible caring animal lover and business owner, he choose to ignore this. How many other dogs may become victims of toxic poisoning from his food.

Deborah of Monrovia, MD November 24, 2008

Deborah of Monrovia MD (11/24/08)
On Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008, my two 10-lb Pomeranians split a can of Evangers beef chunks. Within half an hour, I was rushing to the vet. My dogs were unable to stand, hold up their heads, and they were blind. The vet stabilized them enough to allow me to then drive to the emergency animal clinic, where they were hooked to IVs, and my little guy even had his stomach pumped. My little girl came home about 48 hours later, my little guy came home on Saturday. He is still extremely weak and lethargic, and, now he has seizures, which started in the hospital. He is on a wide variety of meds, and he is still not out of the woods. Because of having an endo-tracheal tube, he now has a collapsed trach.

The food can is being sent to the University of MD's toxicology department for testing. So, all I can say now is, people, connect the dots yourself; my dogs are fine, they eat food, half an hour later, they are blind and paralyzed; BOTH of them at the SAME time!

Besides the emotional heartache of watching your beloved pets suffer, the costs, so far, have been over 2K. I made four phone calls to Evangers and sent 2 emails; no response. My roommate talked with them, their vice-president, and his comment, when told our dogs got sick from their food, was 'oh please', and when reference was made to the FDA alert, he hung up on her.

He and his wife are all over the internet, as well as an employee of their's, posting information to have you believe they are a very concerned firm, that the FDA's report was baloney, that they've had no problems except with an extortionist (another posted mentioned that this is what they called her!). One employee is posting as 'investigator' college student on a variety of websites; their disguises are pretty evident.

Why not just be upfront? People deserve to know the truth, and I am talking about all of the issues people have had with their food, not just the horror we've gone through, and are still going through. I did call the FDA and they want the can and all the information from there, so, once its gone through testing, it will go there.

Lin of Fresno, CA May 19, 2008

Lin of Fresno CA (05/19/08)
After learning that Evanger's has no interest in testing the can of food that Joel their Vice President requested I return to them specifically for testing, and being accused of many things that are not true, I told them I would be sending back the canned food I have at home that has not been used or opened.

I was sent an email from their office manager, Cyntha, that kept accusing me of things that are not true. Cynthia also told me in her email message that my dog was experiencing renal failure!!!!! WOW to be able to diagnose a dog over the internet without seeing any of their blood work or other testing is amazing! I am so impressed - NOT! I replied to her that her statement was not true and the other statements accusing me of my dog having this condition for a few years is also not true and their accusation that my dog has been on Science Diet A/D for a long time is also not true. At no time was my dog ever on that food. She is on over the counter Science Diet for Sensitive Stomach since the end of March.

I asked Cynthia a couple of questions, since they will not share the Vice President's email address with me and she now is, I guess, too scared to answer me because she is just ignoring my questions. I do not recomment this band of dog food to anyone and I sincerely hope that anyone who talks or messages them is prepared to be treated rudely and without concern. I had a horrible experience with them and since Joel and his wife are the new oweners all we dog owners can do is stick together and pray all of our dogs get better without any help from Evangers. I will be testing my food. I will be happy to share all of my experiences with anyone who wishes to contact me.

Leslie of Tabernacle, NJ May 15, 2008

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