Post by Topspin on Mar 2, 2014 5:22:42 GMT
Dear all,
Would you please be interested in helping us at Blue Death Org UK to raise awareness across the UK & the world about the life threatening ingredient Ethylene glycol that is a major constituent of antifreeze, and an all-round dastardly poison. Pets and children may be its accidental victims if it is left within their reach, and in some cases it has been used to deliberately poison dogs, cats and humans.
Here is the online petition & we also have paper versions circulating the UK gathering signatures also from those supporters who are not online, all the same petition for the same campaign. Everyone's support is important, when we work together we are one voice!
www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/uk-eu-parliaments-law-defra-ban-all-antifreeze-preparations-unless-they-contain-a-bitterant?utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=34079333
I know FOARCT has come across many victims to this poisoning..
A few of you know my family alone have had 8 of our cats poisoned & lost 6 of our beloved babies to kidney failure from deliberate poisoning, we have heart breakingly had to watch our family members suffer from this poisoning. In March 2011 we had Dizzy & Benny poisoned just 3 weeks apart then after moving area and thinking our pets were safe, in the last week of August, first few days of September 2012 we had Whiskers, Sooty, Rascal & Felix purposely poisoned & I had to make the heart breaking decision to allow the veterinary team to humanely put our angels to sleep as nothing could be done. In just those 5 days we lost 3 of our cats between the ages of 1- 3 and we only managed to save one, we only have two survivors from antifreeze poisoning, Benny & Felix, my children and I know all too well the heartbreak of antifreeze poisoning. Please help us change the law to help prevent more suffering & deaths. Here is our facebook support group: www.facebook.com/groups/372363790480/?fref=ts
Blue Death Org Uk has been running this campaign since Xmas 2009. There is one website but it has two domain names. www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk is the one we'd like you to share but it's ok to still use the www.bluedeath.org.uk one. The website has loads of information on, including links to the petition, news articles about poisoning cases and loads more. We try to update it as often as possible.
The RIP page is heartbreaking... www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk/antifreeze-kills.html
www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk/rip.html
www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk/non-toxic-antifreeze.html
Please join us alongside several big animal welfare charities backing Blue Death Org UK campaign.Blue Death Org Uk has an active Facebook support group with over 1400 members from all over the world. It's for sharing and supporting others who have lost pet(s) to antifreeze poisoning and to also highlight other animal welfare issues, as most of us are animal lovers and campaigners.
Our objective is to petition our UK government to change the laws regarding anti-freeze manufacturing in the UK. All over the world, many other people have created their own organisations to educate the world about the dangers of anti-freeze, which many do not find out until they have lost a beloved pet or even a friend to this toxic poison that we all take for granted and use without realising just how dangerous it is. The current objective is to research the many webpages and organisations who are already working towards getting all anti-freeze preparations banned unless they contain a bitterant additive. It has already been achieved in five states in America and there is a Bill in Senate. We are campaigning to get the UK government to do the same. www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk/do-something.html
WRITE TO YOUR MP
We have prepared Windows7 and Word 97-2003 formats of a letter template, which you can download and print off and send to your MP. You can of course, create your own letter. So far the success rate in getting a straight answer from MP's has been fairly dismal (even for MP's!). None of them seem to have a clue what department that needs to be approached to challenge the laws changing the legislation. The common answer is Health & Safety Executive (HSE) deal with it - which they don't. HSE enforce the laws set by DEFRA. It is like going around in circles and it's been going on for three years now!
LETTER TEMPLATE CONTENT
HOW TO RAISE THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR MP
1. Read the letter at the bottom of the 'do something' page. Download the letter template, Delete and fill in your address and other details - then print the document and sign it. It is on headed paper and contains charity logos.
2. Go to findyourmp.parliament.uk/ and type in your postcode
3. Your MP will be displayed, with address, and a link to his/her website where you can find an email address.
4. Either post your signed letter or email it.
Please do not just print off the letter or send it in its draft form.
Ethylene glycol has no odour, no colour and is pleasantly sweet to taste. It’s rapidly absorbed from the gut and quickly crosses into the brain, producing euphoria similar to drinking alcohol. The ethylene glycol also produces thirst, which generally results in the pet or child drinking more antifreeze, more euphoria, more thirst, more drinking……a vicious cycle. This could end suddenly in seizures and sudden death, but usually the poison takes a longer course. Antifreeze usually kills its victims by causing acute kidney failure. The Ethylene glycol is metabolised in the liver through several steps to produce oxalate, which is secreted in urine but may create stones in the kidney or bladder. It can cause the kidney tubules to become mineralised and non functional: Kidney Failure.
Once kidney failure has occurred there is nothing that can be done. However, if you suspect that a pet or a child has drunk antifreeze, take them to get medical attention immediately. If treatment is given quickly, then the kidneys can be protected and recovery can be complete.
The RSPCA wrote this on our petition:
"RSPCA - official (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
Many people don't realise that antifreeze is poisonous to animals, and many pets die of antifreeze poisoning every year. We're supporting Bluedeath's campaign calling for a bittering agent to be added to antifreeze products to make them unpalatable to pets. Please take a moment to sign the petition! Ban antifreeze preparations unless they contain a bitterant Petition"
Wildlife Aid Foundation aka T.V's Wildlife SOS joined our campaign after badgers and foxes were found with antifreeze poisoning. Celia Hammond Animal Trust aka CHATS and Catchat.org also joined forces with Blue Death Org UK to raise awareness. We are in talks with the Cat Protection League and a few others.
BDOU is not a registered charity as we do not have any funds raised, however, we do actively ask our supporters to make a donation to charities like the RSPCA, PDSA, Dogs Trust, CPL, Desperate Greekies and others that do so much for animal welfare, rescue and rehoming injured, neglected or unwanted animals.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours faithfully,
Leann
Blue Death Org UK - antifreeze awareness campaign - pets & people
I've included the letter below also, thank you all for your support xx
Dear Sir/Madam [delete as appropriate or insert MP’s name],
RE: ANTI FREEZE POISONING OF ANIMALS
Every year, more than 10,000 animals die from antifreeze poisoning in the UK. The active ingredient, ethylene glycol, tastes sweet and is appealing to animals and humans alike. It only takes a tiny amount to kill an animal (just one teaspoon will kill a cat) and it will cause a slow and agonizing death. In other countries including America & Canada legislation has been brought about to ensure that a bittering agent is added in the production of antifreeze to make this product safe. I strongly feel that here in the UK we should introduce the same legislation, and I am writing to you as one of your constituents to ask you to raise this issue on my behalf.
Antifreeze poisoning facts:
All animals are susceptible to ethylene glycol (EG) toxicity, but it is most common in dogs and cats
Just 30ml (two tablespoons) has been known to kill an adult human (at least 7 cases of human poisonings have made the UK news in the last 10 years)
Following ingestion the symptoms develop quickly and follow a three step progression starting with intoxication and vomiting, before causing metabolic acidosis, cardiovascular dysfunction, seizures, and finally acute kidney failure.
Death can occur within a few hours to a few days, and despite extensive veterinary treatments animals rarely survive. 88% will die within 25 hours.
In 1972 Switzerland (“Swiss Poison Law”) banned the sale of Ethylene Glycol based coolants in Supermarkets, Accessory Shops, and generally across the counter to the public.
One of the main manufacturers of antifreeze has taken steps to try and prevent poisonings occurring. Comma Oil, which supplies antifreeze to companies including Halfords, has added a bittering agent to make it unpleasant to swallow the product. The addition of this bittering agent does not cost the manufacturer much and does not in any way inhibit the product’s performance.
One such bittering agent Denatonium Benzoate (better known as Bitrex or Aversion) has been used in Canada to prevent any future poisonings. Similar products have been used in human and animal taste behaviour modification products, such as nail biting remedies, and to prevent poisonings from toiletries, household cleaning products & pesticides.
Many antifreeze preparations (screenwash etc) are sold without hazard labels, some do not even list the ingredients. We ask that all antifreeze preparations are in containers with clear hazard markings and a full list of ingredients.
Cases where clusters of animals are killed make the national news, and so far this year there have been at least 8 such cases (according to the BBC news)– and some of these are suspected to be intentional. In 2007 the RSPCA took 41 calls about pets with antifreeze poisoning; in 2010 they took 248. In 2006, strychnine-based poisons were banned in the UK because of their misuse and prevalence amongst deliberate domestic pet and human poisoning cases. It is time we do something to prevent more deaths by Ethylene Glycol.
Hydratech have manufactured a completely non-toxic Ethylene Glycol antifreeze which is backed by the Welsh Assembly. It can be done.
The Wildlife Aid Foundation, an animal rescue & rehabilitation charity, are backing this campaign after they rescued several foxes and badgers which had ingested antifreeze laced food. The Celia Hammond Animal Trust are also supporting this campaign. Blue Death Org UK have been fighting for these changes for two years and created the petition, raising awareness and making contact with hundreds of victims to offer them support as well as speaking with the national and local press and radio stations for interviews. The RSPCA said this ‘the RSPCA supports the campaign goals of Blue Death’ – there are links to Blue Death Org UK from their website.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this, and I would very much appreciate a response at your earliest convenience.
[your signature]
[your name]
[your email address]
Would you please be interested in helping us at Blue Death Org UK to raise awareness across the UK & the world about the life threatening ingredient Ethylene glycol that is a major constituent of antifreeze, and an all-round dastardly poison. Pets and children may be its accidental victims if it is left within their reach, and in some cases it has been used to deliberately poison dogs, cats and humans.
Here is the online petition & we also have paper versions circulating the UK gathering signatures also from those supporters who are not online, all the same petition for the same campaign. Everyone's support is important, when we work together we are one voice!
www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/uk-eu-parliaments-law-defra-ban-all-antifreeze-preparations-unless-they-contain-a-bitterant?utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=34079333
I know FOARCT has come across many victims to this poisoning..
A few of you know my family alone have had 8 of our cats poisoned & lost 6 of our beloved babies to kidney failure from deliberate poisoning, we have heart breakingly had to watch our family members suffer from this poisoning. In March 2011 we had Dizzy & Benny poisoned just 3 weeks apart then after moving area and thinking our pets were safe, in the last week of August, first few days of September 2012 we had Whiskers, Sooty, Rascal & Felix purposely poisoned & I had to make the heart breaking decision to allow the veterinary team to humanely put our angels to sleep as nothing could be done. In just those 5 days we lost 3 of our cats between the ages of 1- 3 and we only managed to save one, we only have two survivors from antifreeze poisoning, Benny & Felix, my children and I know all too well the heartbreak of antifreeze poisoning. Please help us change the law to help prevent more suffering & deaths. Here is our facebook support group: www.facebook.com/groups/372363790480/?fref=ts
Blue Death Org Uk has been running this campaign since Xmas 2009. There is one website but it has two domain names. www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk is the one we'd like you to share but it's ok to still use the www.bluedeath.org.uk one. The website has loads of information on, including links to the petition, news articles about poisoning cases and loads more. We try to update it as often as possible.
The RIP page is heartbreaking... www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk/antifreeze-kills.html
www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk/rip.html
www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk/non-toxic-antifreeze.html
Please join us alongside several big animal welfare charities backing Blue Death Org UK campaign.Blue Death Org Uk has an active Facebook support group with over 1400 members from all over the world. It's for sharing and supporting others who have lost pet(s) to antifreeze poisoning and to also highlight other animal welfare issues, as most of us are animal lovers and campaigners.
Our objective is to petition our UK government to change the laws regarding anti-freeze manufacturing in the UK. All over the world, many other people have created their own organisations to educate the world about the dangers of anti-freeze, which many do not find out until they have lost a beloved pet or even a friend to this toxic poison that we all take for granted and use without realising just how dangerous it is. The current objective is to research the many webpages and organisations who are already working towards getting all anti-freeze preparations banned unless they contain a bitterant additive. It has already been achieved in five states in America and there is a Bill in Senate. We are campaigning to get the UK government to do the same. www.antifreeze-kills.co.uk/do-something.html
WRITE TO YOUR MP
We have prepared Windows7 and Word 97-2003 formats of a letter template, which you can download and print off and send to your MP. You can of course, create your own letter. So far the success rate in getting a straight answer from MP's has been fairly dismal (even for MP's!). None of them seem to have a clue what department that needs to be approached to challenge the laws changing the legislation. The common answer is Health & Safety Executive (HSE) deal with it - which they don't. HSE enforce the laws set by DEFRA. It is like going around in circles and it's been going on for three years now!
LETTER TEMPLATE CONTENT
HOW TO RAISE THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR MP
1. Read the letter at the bottom of the 'do something' page. Download the letter template, Delete and fill in your address and other details - then print the document and sign it. It is on headed paper and contains charity logos.
2. Go to findyourmp.parliament.uk/ and type in your postcode
3. Your MP will be displayed, with address, and a link to his/her website where you can find an email address.
4. Either post your signed letter or email it.
Please do not just print off the letter or send it in its draft form.
Ethylene glycol has no odour, no colour and is pleasantly sweet to taste. It’s rapidly absorbed from the gut and quickly crosses into the brain, producing euphoria similar to drinking alcohol. The ethylene glycol also produces thirst, which generally results in the pet or child drinking more antifreeze, more euphoria, more thirst, more drinking……a vicious cycle. This could end suddenly in seizures and sudden death, but usually the poison takes a longer course. Antifreeze usually kills its victims by causing acute kidney failure. The Ethylene glycol is metabolised in the liver through several steps to produce oxalate, which is secreted in urine but may create stones in the kidney or bladder. It can cause the kidney tubules to become mineralised and non functional: Kidney Failure.
Once kidney failure has occurred there is nothing that can be done. However, if you suspect that a pet or a child has drunk antifreeze, take them to get medical attention immediately. If treatment is given quickly, then the kidneys can be protected and recovery can be complete.
The RSPCA wrote this on our petition:
"RSPCA - official (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
Many people don't realise that antifreeze is poisonous to animals, and many pets die of antifreeze poisoning every year. We're supporting Bluedeath's campaign calling for a bittering agent to be added to antifreeze products to make them unpalatable to pets. Please take a moment to sign the petition! Ban antifreeze preparations unless they contain a bitterant Petition"
Wildlife Aid Foundation aka T.V's Wildlife SOS joined our campaign after badgers and foxes were found with antifreeze poisoning. Celia Hammond Animal Trust aka CHATS and Catchat.org also joined forces with Blue Death Org UK to raise awareness. We are in talks with the Cat Protection League and a few others.
BDOU is not a registered charity as we do not have any funds raised, however, we do actively ask our supporters to make a donation to charities like the RSPCA, PDSA, Dogs Trust, CPL, Desperate Greekies and others that do so much for animal welfare, rescue and rehoming injured, neglected or unwanted animals.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours faithfully,
Leann
Blue Death Org UK - antifreeze awareness campaign - pets & people
I've included the letter below also, thank you all for your support xx
Dear Sir/Madam [delete as appropriate or insert MP’s name],
RE: ANTI FREEZE POISONING OF ANIMALS
Every year, more than 10,000 animals die from antifreeze poisoning in the UK. The active ingredient, ethylene glycol, tastes sweet and is appealing to animals and humans alike. It only takes a tiny amount to kill an animal (just one teaspoon will kill a cat) and it will cause a slow and agonizing death. In other countries including America & Canada legislation has been brought about to ensure that a bittering agent is added in the production of antifreeze to make this product safe. I strongly feel that here in the UK we should introduce the same legislation, and I am writing to you as one of your constituents to ask you to raise this issue on my behalf.
Antifreeze poisoning facts:
All animals are susceptible to ethylene glycol (EG) toxicity, but it is most common in dogs and cats
Just 30ml (two tablespoons) has been known to kill an adult human (at least 7 cases of human poisonings have made the UK news in the last 10 years)
Following ingestion the symptoms develop quickly and follow a three step progression starting with intoxication and vomiting, before causing metabolic acidosis, cardiovascular dysfunction, seizures, and finally acute kidney failure.
Death can occur within a few hours to a few days, and despite extensive veterinary treatments animals rarely survive. 88% will die within 25 hours.
In 1972 Switzerland (“Swiss Poison Law”) banned the sale of Ethylene Glycol based coolants in Supermarkets, Accessory Shops, and generally across the counter to the public.
One of the main manufacturers of antifreeze has taken steps to try and prevent poisonings occurring. Comma Oil, which supplies antifreeze to companies including Halfords, has added a bittering agent to make it unpleasant to swallow the product. The addition of this bittering agent does not cost the manufacturer much and does not in any way inhibit the product’s performance.
One such bittering agent Denatonium Benzoate (better known as Bitrex or Aversion) has been used in Canada to prevent any future poisonings. Similar products have been used in human and animal taste behaviour modification products, such as nail biting remedies, and to prevent poisonings from toiletries, household cleaning products & pesticides.
Many antifreeze preparations (screenwash etc) are sold without hazard labels, some do not even list the ingredients. We ask that all antifreeze preparations are in containers with clear hazard markings and a full list of ingredients.
Cases where clusters of animals are killed make the national news, and so far this year there have been at least 8 such cases (according to the BBC news)– and some of these are suspected to be intentional. In 2007 the RSPCA took 41 calls about pets with antifreeze poisoning; in 2010 they took 248. In 2006, strychnine-based poisons were banned in the UK because of their misuse and prevalence amongst deliberate domestic pet and human poisoning cases. It is time we do something to prevent more deaths by Ethylene Glycol.
Hydratech have manufactured a completely non-toxic Ethylene Glycol antifreeze which is backed by the Welsh Assembly. It can be done.
The Wildlife Aid Foundation, an animal rescue & rehabilitation charity, are backing this campaign after they rescued several foxes and badgers which had ingested antifreeze laced food. The Celia Hammond Animal Trust are also supporting this campaign. Blue Death Org UK have been fighting for these changes for two years and created the petition, raising awareness and making contact with hundreds of victims to offer them support as well as speaking with the national and local press and radio stations for interviews. The RSPCA said this ‘the RSPCA supports the campaign goals of Blue Death’ – there are links to Blue Death Org UK from their website.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this, and I would very much appreciate a response at your earliest convenience.
[your signature]
[your name]
[your email address]