Families who lost pets in food recall near settlement

Washington families who lost companions after last year's major pet food recall are close to a settlement -- and, finally, closure to a tragedy that killed more than 1,500 pets.

A judge granted initial approval Friday to a $24 million deal reached last month in which companies that made or sold contaminated food will pay pet owners for all costs related to the death or illness of their pets.

"We are kind of waiting for this to wrap up and for there to be closure," said Cecily Mitchell, a Seattle resident involved in a class-action lawsuit against pet food manufacturer Menu Foods.

We talked to Mitchell last year, when all this got started. She and husband Terry lost their cat, Yoda, last March (read Mitchell's story about Yoda on MySeattlePets), and are still saving evidence of her illness.

"I have these frozen bags of Yoda's food in the freezer, and I really, really want them to leave," Mitchell said.

That could happen soon. Tom Baisch, an attorney with Myers and Co. who has consulted with Washingtonians affected by the recall, said it is "more likely than not" that the settlement will be granted final approval later this year.

The settlement is expected to cover a wide range of costs -- everything from replacement pets to burials to veterinary bills even for those whose pets were pronounced healthy after their check-ups.

But it won't compensate owners for the pain of watching pets get sick and die.

"I don't know how anyone can pay for that," Mitchell said.

If your pets were affected by the contaminated food, watch for news later this summer and into the fall about the terms of the settlement. If you saved your receipts, you could be compensated for costs related to your pets' illness. If you didn't, you can still request up to $900.

Money left over after claims are paid will go to animal-welfare charities.

P.S. -- To anyone out there who may have suffered in a particularly painful way from the death of their animal, animal law attorney Adam Karp recommends that you weigh your options and consider opting out of the settlement. Washington law is more progressive that others in considering this kind of compensation. If it's worth it for you, you could file your own suit and seek special damages.

Ben Huh, publisher of popular Seattle pet blog Itchmo.com, hoped the law could keep up with the growing place pets occupy in people's lives.

"As the importance and value of pets in families grow, laws will have to address that issue," Huh said.

After that, it'll be up to those affected by the recall to file their claims.