If one is going to respond in a manner that shows no interest in facts or researching our organization before throwing out a poorly concocted rebuttal, we see no point in wasting our time with a thorough response, due to the high likelihood it will merely fall on deaf ears but, for you, we will make an exception since you seem so keen on hearing from us.

Regarding your summation we are nothing more than bullies; #NipClub has succeeded in its mission of becoming an animal welfare organization and, as an organization, it is subject to being protested by those disagreeing with decisions seen as destructive to the overall animal welfare movement. Exercising freedom of expression in the interest of public safety is typically termed “protesting”, not “bullying”. We are not “bullying” #NipClub. We are protesting its hypocritical management.

“Shayna Cat”, as a recognized member of the #NipClub organization’s management team, is no longer simply a member of the public as Annette claimed, she is a public figure and public figures are subject to public scrutiny. We protest Hartz Mountain Corporation wherever it goes. It is not our fault #NipClub has chosen to allow Hartz Mountain Corporation to be a part of its functions, but we believe strongly in our mission and, because of that, we will not allow Hartz to use #NipClub as a safe haven from us, despite the fact our protest will anger some. It may surprise you, however, to find not all #NipClubbers agree with you. We have heard words of support, but these individuals have chosen to remain silent in order to avoid attacks stemming from the kind of blind, irrational devotion of some #NipClubbers, as referenced in this post.

Continuing, regarding your statement “…you should take this opportunity to educate about options (so far, your messages are just filled with anger and hatered [sic] for a company – nothing informing individuals of options.”, those familiar with our organization are well aware we have stated alternative methods to flea and tick control numerous times on our blog as well as on our Facebook page and through Twitter. Your comment makes it clear you know little to nothing of our organization. This does not surprise us.

Also, we are not surprised to find there is a pocket of #NipClub supporters that base judgments on tone, not fact. As we have said before, if you prefer polite lies to inflammatory truth, we can’t help you. We are angry because it is outrageous Hartz Mountain Corporation has been allowed to run amok for so long. Hartz has been a known animal danger for decades and we are shocked the #NipClub community, as a whole, seems indifferent to that fact simply because Hartz plays nicely with them. This is compounded by the fact King Tutti Fruiti (also a public figure) has made it clear “he” is aware of the dangers Hartz presents.

In regards to the name you have chosen for this post, “Anonymous Because You Are – State Who You Are and Stand Behind Your Statements”, we do not care what your name is. It is of no consequence and we’re not in the habit of being manipulated into divulging crucial information to our cause based on what amounts to nothing more than a claim of “chicken”. We stand behind everything we say and there is no need for our identities to be revealed in order for the facts we have presented to be considered valid. In legal matters, as an anonymous organization, we have been taken seriously by Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and others. In the case of Facebook, it’s worth noting they agreed to allow us anonymity despite this being in direct opposition to their stated policies. These cases have been documented on our blog. If we were lying, we would have been shut down long ago.

In conclusion, we encourage you, and all other detractors, to read through our near 100 posts before wasting our time with further deflective nonsense.

Also, if Hartz’ role in #NipClub is so insignificant, why has #NipClub Management held so stubbornly to a sponsor they know to be responsible for many unnecessary deaths. It just makes no sense.

I attend Nipclub & while Hartz is a large part of your universe I can assure you it isn’t a large part of the Nipclub universe.

Nipclub is a fun environment where people tweeting as their pets go for entertainment & to help small animal charities. While the team that keeps it running tries to be professional, they are not running it as an enterprise & your assessment of the situation makes a mountain out of a molehill.

While you may have caused upset which may have been a catalyst to Shayna’s post, I am very confident it wasn’t directed solely at you. The context I read it in didn’t even bring you to mind, because many of us use the #Nipclub hashtag to mention things we think might be relevant to the audience but in fact they are not relevant to the forum/environment of Nipclub. I read Shayna’s blog & realised that myself & other individual participants should not dilute Nipclub by pushing other topics & should respect that it’s there for fun & the nominated charity. You may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back & the situation may now seem like a big issue because people naturally try to defend themselves & their friends, but – get some perspective.

Your assessment comes across as disrespectful to individuals who are not operating within the same type of framework as you & is unfair. Your assumption that Shayna’s blogpost was solely addressed to you wreaks of delusions of grandeur.

I have worked in multi-national corporations for many years at senior levels & your representation in this blog comes across as an organisation bullying a member of the public. (My knowledge of this situation comes only from your representation of it here & not from my attendance at Nipclub. I can assure you I have not been primed.)

Perspective is required, & probably an apology too. Get a grip & focus your resources on your very worthy cause.

Our incident happened in 2008 sadly there were many before & ongoing complaints flooding in daily…. Please help get the word out … This crap is POISON….

Secondly, I’m sorry–very sorry–that I have not been active in my support. In fact, I’m traveling tomorrow out of the country and will be gone most of September. However, the issues that have precluded my involvement in this issue will be–for the most part–behind me later this month. I cannot wait to get personally involved again. Efforts by people like you are inspiring and It will be a pleasure to support–even in a small way–your outstanding work. You have accomplished so much and have been a wonderful inspiration to everyone that respects and has compassion for animals. I very much look forward to supporting you in any way possible. Thank you again for your significant contributions in this journey to free the world of these despicable products and the processes and people that hide behind them for personal profit.

“See you”, soon. All the best. – Rich.

http://brokenhartz.wordpress.com/the-rite-aid-affair/

In answer to your question, this was the first time these affiliates ever used a Hartz flea treatment product.

We are happy to hear you have not had any problems with Hartz. We wish this was always the case, but even Hartz’ Dr. Melinda Fernyhough has said, in response to the question:

“Q: How do you know if a dog is going have an allergic reaction to a topical flea and tick product?
A: Unfortunately, this is not an easy question to answer. Your dog can have a reaction to the first exposure to a product, to a later application of the product, or never. While reactions to topical drops are rare, they might result in mild skin irritation. It is important to observe your pet for the first 24 hours and contact your veterinarian if you note any abnormal reactions.”

This Q&A with Dr. Melinda can be found here:

http://www.hartzultraguard.com/ask_dr_melinda/Dog_Questions.aspx

As well as a reiteration of this statement in the cat portion of the Q&A:

http://www.hartzultraguard.com/ask_dr_melinda/Cat_Questions.aspx

We also wish to note, though Hartz often refers to these kinds of problems as “allergic reactions”, we strongly disagree. In conclusion, if you have not yet read our mission statement, please do so. It will give you a pretty good idea of Hartz Mountain Corporation’s true nature:

http://brokenhartz.wordpress.com/about

Again, we are happy to hear you have not experienced any Adverse Events with Hartz but we strongly advise you discontinue use; especially considering, according to the EPA, this stuff may not even be necessary:

“Taking care of your pets responsibly includes protecting them from fleas and ticks. Before purchasing and applying pesticide products to pets to control fleas and ticks, there is important information you should know.”

“Consult your veterinarian about the best way to to protect your pets from fleas and ticks and whether pesticides are even needed.”

“Flea and Tick Control Tips

• The following tips may help to prevent, reduce, or eliminate flea infestations:
  • Vacuuming on a daily basis to remove eggs, larvae and adults is the best method for initial control of a flea infestation. It is important to vacuum the following areas: carpets, cushioned furniture, cracks and crevices on floors, along baseboards and the basement.
  • Steam cleaning carpets may also help as the hot steam and soap can kill fleas in all stages of the life cycle. Pay particular attention to areas where pets sleep.
  • Wash all pet bedding and family bedding on which pets lie in hot, soapy water every two to three weeks. If an infestation is severe, discard old pet bedding and replace it with fresh, clean material.
  • Flea combs are very effective tools in the suppression of adult fleas. They allow hair to pass through the tines but not the fleas, removing fleas as well as flea feces and dried blood. Focus combing on those parts of the pet where the most fleas congregate, usually the neck or tail area. When fleas are caught, deposit them in hot soapy water to kill them.
  • Consider keeping pets indoors.”

All above listed EPA comments have come from this page from EPA.gov:

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/flea-tick.htm

You can read more of our thoughts on the above quoted EPA material in this post:

http://brokenhartz.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/a-sic-education-tab-part-i/

Lastly, the EPA noted in their Public Advisory from March 2010, that small breed dogs were affected more often than large breed dogs.

We hope the information we’ve provided has helped to answer your question! Stop by any time.

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