Planet Calamari Zazzle shop

2007-05-31

Every Pet Owner Should Read This

Menu Foods harassed pet owners

May 26, 2007 -- From USA Today

The pet food company that recalled 60 million cans of contaminated dog and cat food repeatedly made harassing phone calls to pet owners who had lawyers and said they didn't want to talk, even after a judge ordered the firm to leave them alone, court records show.

Lawyers from six firms representing clients who claim their pets were harmed by Menu's pet food asked a federal judge in New Jersey Wednesday to stop Menu from "bullying" people who had called the company since the recall was announced March 16, according to their court filing.

U.S. District Judge Noel Hillman in Camden, N.J., agreed with the plaintiffs, describing the calls as "aggressive," according to a transcript of the hearing obtained by USA TODAY.

"It's one thing for two people to sit down at the table and voluntarily agree to settle their case. It's another thing to harass people on weekends through automated phone calls," Hillman said to Edward Ruff of Pretzel & Stouffer, Menu's lawyer.

Hillman ordered Menu Foods to have no contact with anyone who believes their animal was injured by its product unless a lawyer representing them is involved.

Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods has hired Crawford & Co., an insurance adjustor in Atlanta, to contact pet owners who called the company to report animal illnesses or deaths, according to the hearing transcript.

At a previous hearing on Friday, May 18, the judge had cautioned Menu and Crawford that they should not contact people who had joined one of the lawsuits against the company. Legally, Menu cannot contact those plaintiffs directly but must go through their lawyers.

But in affidavits presented in court Wednesday, pet owners said they received calls that weekend from Crawford representatives who pressed them to answer questions even after being told the owners had hired lawyers. In some cases, the pet owners also received multiple calls from Crawford's computerized phone banks after telling representatives they were represented by attorneys, according to the affidavits.

"Menu's representatives asked owners to sign releases which waived their right to get advice from a lawyer," said attorney Jay Edelson in an interview.

His Chicago-based firm Blim & Edelson represents more than 600 pet owners.

"It appears that the company was engaging in a cynical strategy, designed to settle some of the strongest claims cheaply and induce pet owners to give up information it might be able to use to defend against others," Blim & Edelson said in a letter Friday that was sent to clients and posted on Internet blogs for pet owners.

Ruff said in court that he told his clients about the judge's instruction after the May 18 hearing, but because it was the start of a holiday weekend — May 21 was Victoria Day in Canada — the message may not have been fully communicated, according to the transcript.

Hillman was unyielding.

"It seems to me that Menu Food is out to do whatever Menu Foods wants to do in a way that could adversely impact the rights of possible members of the class action suit," he said, according to the transcript.

Calls to Ruff's office seeking comment Friday were not returned.

Operators at Crawford directed USA TODAY to call back Tuesday after the holiday.

Menu posted a notice on its website after the hearing, saying it could not have direct contact with individual pet owners "for the time being" because of the court order.

"In light of the order, we regret that we cannot communicate with you at this time. As soon as the court permits, we intend to resume efforts to resolve claims directly with pet owners. We will post additional information when we are able," the notice says.

Since mid-March, Menu has recalled wet pet food products sold under more than 100 brand names, including Procter & Gamble's Iams and Wal-Mart's Ol' Roy.

The Food and Drug Administration has linked the contamination to wheat flour imported from China that was tainted with the industrial chemical melamine. The FDA's investigation also has revealed melamine-tainted wheat flour was mixed into pet foods made by other companies, and animal feed and fish feed.

Although the FDA has not provided an official count of pet deaths associated with the recall, it has said unconfirmed reports received from pet owners total more than 4,000 deaths.

Menu is facing dozens of lawsuits stemming from the recall. This week a federal multi-district litigation panel will meet in Las Vegas to determine which district court will hear the cases against Menu. The panel is expected to announce a decision by mid-summer.

www.vetlocator.com

One more reason to support the safe and quality pet food companies like Solid Gold and California Naturals and to boycott all those greedy pet food companies that use Menu Foods to make their garbage foods.

2007-05-30

Time Out!


We are all taking a few days off to lay in the sun and veg out. These past few weeks have been filled with so many parties.

Time to nap and chase butterflies. Enjoy the week!

xoxoox
nubi wan kenobi

Visit The Planet Calamari Shop

2007-05-26

Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Let us remember all the wonderful animals who have served to protect us as well as all those who passed on in wars and on 9/11

2007-05-24

May the Force be With You


To celebrate the 30th anniversary of STAR WARS the Cinema Calamari will be showing the entire collection of the Star Wars movies this weekend.

A costume party for the cast members and celebrities of the Star Wars movies will be held at Casino Calamari this Saturday night. George Lucas and the entire cast from the very first movie will be our featured guests.

Please bring your own light saber, thermal detonator or droid.

Bantha valet parking will be provided.

Tickets are still available. Call 1-800-Boo-Zevo or visit PooseTours.com

May the Force be with you,

nubi wan kenobi
jedi poose

ps... Please note that only Zevo Calamari will be allowed to wear the Princess Leia slave girl costume. All others will be refused admission.

2007-05-23

What Tiara?


Lucy Fur thinks that Zevo and i need to join a 12 step program for shoplifters. ... but we are not shoplifting. None of the jewelry and art we find is in stores. What ever is she talking about?

And this is MY tiara! Lucy, you must be off your meds again if you think i took it from you. How about we go check in the Golden Door in Escondido for a few days of massages and detoxing? I will even let you wear the tiara for a few hours.

love
boo

p.s. Zevo's pet human has not been allowing her to use the computer lately so it has been difficult to comment on other cat's blogs. She apologizes for her pet human who seems too busy for such important matters. Zevo is hoping to hire a secretary very soon to help out.

Help us pay for Zevo's office staff... please shop at The Planet Calamari Shop

2007-05-21

The Day After.....

Thanks so much for the great party. You pooses sure know how to dance! I had a blast. I would be honored to ride on your floats at all the pride parades this summer. Thanks for the invite.
See you soon.

OH.... by the way, I seemed to have lost my earrings last night...must have been all that dancing. Has anyone seen them?

Ciao bella,
Cher

Visit The Planet Calamari Shop

2007-05-20

Happy Birthday Cher



To celebrate Cher's birthday we will be showing her movies all weekend at the Cinema Calamari.

Cher will make a guest appearance Sunday at the Casino Calamari, followed by a small birthday party at Hamburger Mary's hosted by the Pooses for Peace and the Rainbow Pride Pooses.

2007-05-18

Strike Threeeeeee

While Boo prefers to use her claws on her pet human, i have always found that using a poose bat on mine while she is sleeping produces a much more entertaining effect. There is nothing like wacking at her all night with a poose bat and then having her wake up saying " Wow...Why do i feel so beat up this morning? What did we do last night?"

Order your poose bat today. Call 1-800-Bat-Zevo
or visit www.poosebats.com

Operators are standing by. Hurry! Supplies are limited. And if you order in the next 15 minutes we will throw in a free bag of catnip.

2007-05-17

Phase 2 of the attack....

Well she took 2 antihistimines last night to ward off our biological attack. Thus we had to introduce Phase 2......Pretzel-izing her neck and back. I made sure to sleep on her entire pillow so her neck was bent in a most unusual way. Nubi curled up around her so her back was tweaked.

This morning she looked like a pretzel. Too bad her chiro is off today! We hid the human acupuncture needles and all her stinky Chinese liniments....

Isn't a pity she has to go treat dogs all day feeling like that!
Maybe THIS will teach her a lesson.

ciao ciao
zevo

Visit The Planet Calamari Shop

2007-05-16

Biological Warfare

My pet human cheated on us this past weekend. She spent her entire time away with a bunch of dogs. ........so called famous dogs....Now that is all she is talking about...."dogs....let's get a dog... i want a dog...yada yada yada"

Of course this leaves only one course of action for her actions. I have declared biological warefare upon her. I have been sleeping on her pillow while Nubi sleeps under her nose. I make sure to shed extra on her side of the bed. We have been depositing fur and dander all over the house.

The sounds of sneezing and wheezing are disturbing to us. .. but it is worth it. Maybe she will learn her lesson. Never cheat on your pooses and never threaten to get a dog.

all is fair in love and war,
zevo

Visit The Planet Calamari Shop

2007-05-14


After a lively weekend at the Casino Calamari, i thought i would rest and catch up on my reading. Steven Colbert recommended a few books for us all.
It is good to be back in San Diego.

love
boo

2007-05-10

You are invited....


My pet humans will be occupied for the weekend so i thought we could throw a tiny bash up in the casino. Sunday is Steven Colbert's birthday. Since he has had the Pooses for Peace on his show several times, it is only right we throw a bash for him. The party starts tonight!

Stop on by and have some fun and a dose of truthiness.

xoxoxo
zevo

2007-05-09

Celebrity Ghost Cat Haunts San Diego....


The ghost of Lucille Ball's cat sightings have been reported once again in San Diego. Residents of Hillcrest claim to hear a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa sound whenever the ghost is around. Said to be harmless by a local ghostologist, locals are still concerned she may cause trouble. Some have been leaving bowls of Vita-Veta-Vegamin and tubes of red lipstick to appease the spirit.

Poose-cam live from San Diego brought to you by Visit The Planet Calamari Shop

2007-05-08

Stop the Insanity

Emergency meeting of the Poose Congress.
The insanity must stop. Please vote yes or no if you think the Dark Sith Lord, Darth Cheney should be impeached.

NATIONAL CHENEY IMPEACHMENT POLL: www.usalone.com/cheney

2007-05-07

shhhhhhh

ohhhhh my head.... please keep those lights off and the music turned down.

We are all so hung over. all those cat nip margaritas at Chey and Latte's wedding. Riding the Pirates of the Caribbean with Captain Jack, singing "It's a small world" with Al Gore and then flying around on the Peter Pan ride while doing shots did us all in.

Then we had the surprise birthday party for George last night......limoncello shots all night.....

Someone please bring us the asprin and ginger ale....

zevo

2007-05-05

happy cinco de mayo

Zevo Calamari on Cinco de Mayo 2005
posted by her substitute poose

Zevo & friends are at Chey and Latte's wedding today. All pooses are invited to George Clooney's surprise party tomorrow at Hamburger Mary's in Salem.

Ole'

Visit The Planet Calamari Shop

2007-05-03

Salma Saves the Day

Entertainment Tonight


Salma Hayek has announced that celebrity pooses Zevo Calamari, Miss Boo, Lucy Fur and Tao will be allowed to borrow some of her costumes from the movie Frida for this weekend. The cats will be attending the wedding of presidental candidate Cheysuli on Cinco de Mayo in DisneyWorld.

Other famed pooses such as Nubi De Juan Kenobi and Sargito will be wearing traditional mariachi attire.

Seis de Mayo, the celebrities will be hosting a surprise birthday party for their dear friend George Clooney at their hot spot Hamburgesa Marias in Salem. Both days they will be wearing traditional outfits from the Frida collection. Salma will attend the surprise party. Unconfirmed sources say that she will also be at the wedding.


The rumors of these celebrity pooses sporting uni-brows with the costumes are still unconfirmed.



Entertainment Tonight has been brought to you by The Planet Calamari Shop

2007-05-01

Stop the Musica

WE INTERRUPT THIS FIESTA TO BRING YOU THE LATEST UPDATE
IN THE PET FOOD RECALL....

MUY IMPORTANTANTE!!!!
There has been some new additions to the pet food recall and, unless you are preparing your pet's meals at home, (or feeding them Solid Gold) it would be wise to check the list every few days.

Companies included in the recent updates include Blue Buffalo and Kirkland food, as well
as some others. Here is the Pet Food recall link:
www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/

Happy May! Casino Calamari is serving fresh free-range fish tacos and Coronas all week. Please bring your own sombrero.

Brothel Calamari is having a Beltane Special tonight.

Visit The Planet Calamari Shop