Despite 75,000 complaints and reports of 1,700 pet deaths, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not issued a warning to pet parents using the nation’s most popular flea and tick collar.
An investigative report published by USA Today found that the EPA has documented 75,000 complaints against Bayer’s Seresto flea and tick collar. Among those, 1,700 pet deaths were reported.
The investigation, conducted by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, reviewed thousands of complaints filed by pet owners with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Since Bayer introduced the Seresto collars in 2012, the EPA has recorded at least 1,698 reports of pet deaths related to the collars. By June 2020, the EPA had also received more than 75,000 incident reports related to the collars, according to documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.
The investigation also revealed at least 1,000 cases of human illness or injury as a result of contact with the collars. The collar, which is designed to release a small amount of pesticide onto the animal’s skin over a period of up to 8 months, is advertised as a flea and tick killer that is safe for cats and dogs.
And, despite the thousands of pet deaths and illnesses to both humans and animals, the EPA has not issued a warning to pet parents. It remains the best-selling flea and tick collar on Amazon.
According to USA Today, Bayer has not responded to requests for comment. To read the full investigative report, click here.
