NORTH PORT, Fla. (WFLA) - For Kelly Bone, the grief is almost too much to bear.
She doesn't let herself think about it often. Her heart is too broken, the tears begin to fall as she talks about a tender topic.
Losing her little guy, Duncan.
Kelly says her gentle pup died a painful death recently when his kidneys failed.
She claims he suffered in the end.
This North Port pet parent is still shocked and sickened, she says, when she thinks about what allegedly took his life.
His food.
"He was the love of my life," Kelly said in an exclusive interview Friday night. "We spent every moment together."
Their bond was unmistakable.
He was, indeed, the love of her life, and as it turns out, saved her life many times by alerting her to seizures. Her 13-year-old Bichon Frise wasn't just a dog.
For Kelly, Duncan was a family member, a protector, a guardian. Then, he was gone.
Her constant, faithful companion died in January, leaving Kelly beyond heartbroken and ultimately confused.
What happened?
Duncan was healthy. He was active. He was extremely playful and got plenty of exercise. He was extremely good-natured and loved being around people
Not to mention, Kelly watched him like a hawk.
They were inseparable.
So, what went wrong?
How did this happen, she wondered.
After copious research, analysis of his food intake, countless discussions with dieticians, veterinarians, family, friends and other pet parents, Kelly narrowed it down to one conclusion.
She didn't like what she uncovered, she says.
Kelly maintains Duncan's dog food is what killed him.
The food was manufactured by Hill's Pet Nutrition, and according to Kelly, contained highly toxic levels of Vitamin D.
It wasn't just dangerous, she told us, it was deadly.
Duncan's food would soon be included in a sweeping, global recall issued by the company in late January, and its canned dog food was among the products affected.
The reason for the recall?
Elevated levels of Vitamin D were found.
Duncan's dog food, Kelly concluded, cost him his life.
When the January recall was issued, the shock and dismay were felt around the world.
Pet owners in 26 countries claim they watched their animals die and couldn't figure out why it was happening.
Many now say tainted dog food is to blame - food from one of the most well-known, popular brands.
Kelly told us, "Hill's has admitted they had a third party supplier that put too much Vitamin D in their food. They did not have the appropriate quality controls in place to test that food."
Hill's Pet Nutrition admitted their food was flawed.
The company issued the following statement to WFLA, saying in part, "Our investigation confirmed that, due to a supplier error, a certified ingredient was shipped to Hill's that contained elevated levels of Vitamin D. We now require the supplier of our Vitamin mix to conduct additional testing on every batch."
Kelly says the company contacted her after Duncan's death to discuss the circumstances.
She explained how Hill's offered her $10 in coupons.
"Coupons," she exclaimed. She was incredulous. "For a dog I no longer have!"
That was late January.
Now, it's happened again.
Another massive recall was announced by Hill's Pet Nutrition - an expansion of an initial recall in January, caused by the same vitamin premix received from a U.S. supplier.
The following products have been added to the initial recall:
- Hill's Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care with Lamb canned dog food, 13 oz., 12-pack, SKU 2697, Date Code/Lot Code 102020T25
- Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken & Vegetable Entree dog food 12x12.8 oz. cans, SKU 2975, Date Code/Lot Code 092020T28
- Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew canned dog food, 5.5 oz., 24-pack, SKU 3388, Date Code/Lot Code 102020T18
- Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat Canine Rice, Vegetable & Chicken Stew, 24x5.5 oz. cans, SKU 3391 Date Code/Lot Code 092020T27
- Hill's Prescription Diet r/d Canine 12x12.3 oz. cans, SKU 7014, Date Codes/Lot Codes 092020T28, 102020T27, 102020T28
- Hill's Science Diet Adult Beef & Barley Entree canned dog food, 13 oz., 12-pack, SKU 7039, Date Codes/Lot Codes 092020T31, 102020T21
- Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Healthy Cuisine Roasted Chicken, Carrots & Spinach Stew dog food, 12x12.5 oz. cans, SKU 10449, Date Code/Lot Code 092020T28
- Hill's Science Diet Healthy Cuisine Adult Braised Beef, Carrots & Peas Stew canned dog food, 12.5 oz., 12-pack, SKU 10451, Date Code/Lot Code 102020T28
Entire list of recalled products
The products were sold nationwide.
Elevated levels of vitamin D in dogs can lead to vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. In some cases, it can lead to potentially life-threatening health issues in dogs, including renal dysfunction.
Two massive pet food recalls in less than two months.
When the recall was announced this week, Kelly couldn't believe it.
She said, "This company needs to be put out of business. They do not deserve to be in business!"
Duncan's owner felt the heartache all over again. She was horrified, angry and filled with grief.
Then, a moment of calm.
That sweet, fluffy face.
Those cuddles.
Those images of seeing her little guy grinning in goggles, or "doggles," as they're called.
Kelly's heart swelled with warmth and purpose.
Her favorite fella needed her.
She says reminded herself - Don't give up, keep fighting for Duncan.
So, she did.
And, she hasn't stopped.
On Friday evening as she shared Duncan's story, she was filled with emotion, wiping away tears. She sighed and shook her head.
"We have to be their voice. People owe it to their pet to research their pet food. and be the pet's advocate because the pet can't do it themselves," she told us. "That's the take-away."
Kelly is hoping her message goes global.
Turns out, it has.
Everywhere.
People are listening.
And talking.
And emailing this North Port pet parent non-stop
Kelly has received thousands of messages from around the world.
It all began weeks ago with a post on her Facebook page - a message to her sweet boy, "Duncan, I am so sorry I trusted this company. Mommy loves you."
The world was listening.
After Kelly shared Duncan's struggles online, she was shocked by what happened next..
Her post went viral.
Duncan's story has been shared more than a million times.
The response has been both overwhelming and comforting. Countless people have contacted Kelly with heartfelt condolences.
There have also been those who are seeking comfort, those who know firsthand what kind of grief Kelly is going through daily.
Pet owners reached out to say they, too, lost their beloved four-legged family members, citing Hill's Nutrition as the culprit after its January recall of food containing dangerous Vitamin D levels.
When WFLA asked Hills' about Kelly's case, the company spoke out regarding Duncan:
First and foremost, we’re heartbroken about this situation, which involves a limited quantity of our canned dog foods, and we are taking it very seriously. As pet parents ourselves, we understand the gravity of health issues with our pets.
Our investigation confirmed that, due to a supplier error, a certified ingredient was shipped to Hill’s that contained elevated levels of vitamin D outside of our specifications. That vitamin mix formula is not an ingredient in any of our dry foods. No dry foods, treats or other wet foods are impacted by this recall.
To prevent this from happening again, we now require the supplier of our vitamin mix to conduct additional quality testing on every batch of this ingredient delivered to Hill’s. In addition, we are also strengthening our own testing protocol for incoming ingredients as an additional safeguard.
Hill's Nutrition also provided a link so customers could check specific types of pet food affected.
As for Kelly, she remains heartbroken, but steadfast in her efforts.
Her mission?
Get "justice for Duncan," she told us.
She even has a hashtag for him.
#DuncanStrong
"I won't stop fighting. I'm on Facebook every day, answering messages. Thousands of them. People have called me the Erin Brockovich of pet food," she smiled. "I guess so. I just want to be Duncan's voice, and the voice of other pets since they can't speak for themselves."
She added, "I don't give advice, I just encourage pet food education. We have to be good advocates for our pets," she explained. "Duncan was my baby. He was the love of my life. I'll keep fighting for him."
Kelly has since filed a lawsuit and is represented by a corporate firm out of Chicago.
For more information regarding the two recalls, Hill's Pet Nutrition can be contacted via this toll-free number 1-800-445-5777 or email contactus@hillspet.com.
