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Menu Food, Kidney Failure:

"Desperate" California family pleads with Menu Foods for dog's life

By Judi McLeod

Monday, March 26, 2007

The Cesar Cerda family in St. Bernadino, California doesn't want to give up believing in miracles. Since Saturday they've been waiting for the telephone to ring hoping that it will be someone from Menu Foods, Mississauga, Ontario on the other end of the line.

Even though other family members, friends and neighbours have told them their prospects look less than hopeful, they continue to cling to hope.

Reina Their first telephone call was made on early Saturday morning, followed by several more, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and afternoon and again today.

"A message service took our name and telephone number and we've been waiting ever since," 47-year-old Cerda told Canada Free Press this afternoon.

The family's beloved pet Reina, a three-year-old AKC Newfoundland dog is fighting for her life due to kidney failure, the result as of contamination in Nutro Ultra food and pouches. Reina has been at Central Hospital in Upland, California since Saturday.

Vets have told the family that the only alternative to save Reina's life would be dialysis to flush the toxins out of her body, but the estimated cost of $10,000 is beyond their reach.

"If it was my daughter, I'd sell my house," Cerda told CFP. "I know $10,000 is a lot of money but my suffering dog is worth it."

The family is not looking to Menu Foods for all of the money but for help in compensating for Reina's veterinary care.

Cerda, who works as an inspector for highway improvement, says his dog, a loyal, lively and lovable pet, suddenly stopped eating.

"It wasn't until we got blood tests back that we knew it was rat poison in her food. My wife, my daughter and I were frantic when told the news."

Reina, who Cerda bought for his wife as a puppy three Christmases ago, is loved by all.

"My work involves travel and I wanted my wife Nancy to have a companion anytime I was away."

Nancy became alarmed when she went to replenish the family pet's food supply last week. There were no Nutro Ultra food pouches on the shelf at the store she frequents. When she asked where the Nutro Ultra was, a clerk told her it was on recall.

By this time, Reina was showing little appetite and the Cerdas rushed the canine to the vet.

"We want others to be aware of the severity of the contamination and the damage it can do to healthy, loved pets," daughter Andrea Cerda, 21, wrote in an email to CFP.

Vets have told the family that there is hope for Reina if the operation to flush her kidneys is started right away. Meanwhile all are in tears as Reina's health fluctuates hour by hour.

Asked what he wanted to say to Menu Foods, Cerda said,"Tell them we're desperate. We're not too proud to beg and plead because it's Reina. Please, please return our calls."

If Menu Foods CEO Paul Henderson should get a chance to read this, these are the telephone numbers to reach the Cerdas:

Cesar Cerda: 909-732-1294

Nancy Cerda: 909-732-1294

Andrea Cerda's email: nakawe00@yahoo.com.

Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


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