LAKEPORT The nation-wide poisoned pet food scare has made it to Lake County. Pugsly, a 4-year-old pug dog, owned by Rose Norcio, 25 of Lakeport, has died as a result to eating Priority Brand dog food, distributed by Safeway stores.
Its ripping our family apart, said Norcio. We got him when our daughter was a baby, and she keeps asking wheres my brother? Its like losing a child.
Norcio claims that she and her husband Nick have contacted lawyers and are seeking to add their names to a lawsuit that is pending class-action status. Norcio said the lawyers have 90 people signed up so far. The lawsuit has been filed out of Wisconsin.
What appeared to be a stroke of bad luck turned out to be a fortunate turn of events this past weekend. Our daughter had left some chocolate out, said Rose. Pugsly ate the candy and began throwing up soon afterward. A visit to the Main Street Veterinary Clinic in Lakeport revealed that Pugsly had kidney failure.
[The vet] said chocolate doesnt affect the kidneys, said Rose. Thats when he brought up the dog food.
Rose claims that about a month ago she entered the hospital for surgery and her husband Nick bought the generic food at Safeway for the Pugsly and his brother Booboo, a 2-year-old pug. She said it was the cuts & gravy type food.
They only ate it once or twice, she said. You dont think its gonna happen to you.
The veterinarian suggested she bring Booboo in for testing as well, since they had both been exposed to the recalled brand. They brought the dog in Tuesday, and tests revealed kidney failure in the second dog as well.
After being at the clinic since Monday, Rose and Nick received word that Pugsly was vomiting up blood and probably wouldnt make it another 24 hours.
Pugsly began having seizures Wednesday evening despite exhaustive recovery measures at the vet clinic. We were going to take him to Davis, where they have dialysis for dogs, but they told us he wouldnt make the trip.
Pugsly died Wednesday evening.
We actually opted to have his liver biopsied and sent to pathology, said Rose. She did this at the urging of Dr. Takasue at the clinic. That will tell us what exactly poisoned him.
Booboo is expected to be well enough to return home, said Rose.
While originally, Puglsy and Nick didnt get along, Rose said that over the years they had grown to love each other very much.
We normally buy main brands, Rose said. He feels very responsible.
The familys loss has been both sudden and deeply felt. Both the kids are very depressed, said Rose. They have been crying — they grew up with him.
Contact Aura Thomas at athomas@record-bee.com.
