DO NOT BUY MARTHA STEWART LEASH! read on.....

[Winston :)]

I bought Winston a very cute leash from Martha Stewart's new line of Pet Supplies. Tuesday night on our walk Winston picked up a piece of trash. I reached down to grab it from his mouth and placed my hand high on the leash. The LEASH OPENED with the slightest pressure. The clasp of the leash moves on both sides and opens in the middle, not like most leash's that just open on one side when you push down the lever. Winston started bolting back to our home, which was on the other side of VERY BUSY street. My fiance tackled Winston about four feet from the road. Winston let out the biggest cry/scream/bark/horror that I have ever heard. At the time I also thought he pooped himself, but later found out that dogs can excreate from their anal glands when they are exteremly scared or frightened. I took him to the emergency animal hospital and after four hourshe was lucky enough to  come home with some bruising and pain meds, however, I can only imagine what COULD HAVE BEEN.

 

This product is NOT safe! I called PetSmart's main office this morning to file a complaint. Let EVERY dog owner you know not to even thing about purchasing this product. The more I thought about it, the more of it a reality it became that Winston or any other dog could have pulled hard enough for the clasp to break.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I cannot believe you just posted this! I had the EXACT same thing happen with a Martha Stewart leash I bought right before we went camping! It came off of Hunter but thank God she didn't realize it and I was able to get it back on quick - my husband took his shoelace out of his shoe and fixed it so it wouldn't happen again so we could get back to our campsite. We were pretty and had to walk down the road that was the main street between the main entrance and the beach. If she would have gone after a bird or a duck on that busy road I can't even imagine what would have happened.

Thank God that Winston and you and your fiancee are ok. I hadn't thought about calling them and reporting it but I am going to right now. I hope everyone's bruises heal quickly. I am so glad that you posted this.

[Winston :)]

That makes me sick! I was practially crying on the phone with PetSmart because I KNOW this will happen to someone else. We are both so lucky. I threw away the other products from her line as well. Thanks for your call and post!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Winston may not agree, but thank goodness for your athletic fiance!!!! Having had a similar experience a few months ago (clasp on Jack's leash broke), I know there is almost nothing scarier than suddenly having your dog running loose! I am so glad Winston is okay! Thanks for telling us about this terrible product.

[Joyce & Wilson]

So glad you posted this and you too Denise! How lucky that your fiance was swift on his feet and avoided a tragedy! I do hope that Petsmart and MS pull this product and double check her others.. I cant help but wonder how Martha would feel if this had happened to one of her dogs??? Also, have you tried to post on a negative comment on her pet website? They need to know!

[Winston :)]

Nancy and Joyce,
Just posted a negative review on PetSmart.com. It says it takes up to 24 hours to see, so hopefully it gets there. I also sent an e-mail to Martha Stewart's "contact me" link on her website.

[Joyce & Wilson]

I posted a comment on her website to.... on the pet wags blog. I doubt they publish it.. but at least they will be made aware!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I saw the way the leash was configured, and it looked less than sturdy. Thanks so much for this warning!

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I called the PetsMart office and I am going to post to the website as well. Its funny because I have NEVER been a Martha Stewart fan at all - I should have stuck with that feeling and not bought one of her products. Exactly, how would she have felt?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

One other place that you could probably call in order to get the word out to prevent this from happening to others, is the local news stations. I know ours have things like "Don't waste your money" or segments that review products and miscellaneous other ones. I'm sure since it is animal related and that Winston ended up in the emergency clinic, that they might be interested in doing a segment on it ..... particularly since Winston is so cute! (that always helps).

Gotta agree with the others --- I'd make my own leash out of twine before I bought anything with Martha Stewarts name on it!

[shelly]

WOW! so glad to hear that everyone is safe - not too sound - but SAFE! I know how sick you feel! I had a similar situation happen to us when we brought Tori to get groomed. She bucked and pulled away as we entered the store and came out of her leash. It was in the parking lot of a shopping center on a very busy street. It's SO scary. I think I let out some "anal excretions" then too! It's so hard to not think of the 'what-ifs'... but try and focus on what did happen - Winston is ok. I think this should be posted everywhere any of us can get it out there! THANK YOU for letting us know! Now for you and your fiancé - try and relax!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What a horrible experience...I'm so thankful that Winston is going to be okay. After Karen posted about her experience with Jack I went out and bought slip leads for our guys. I use those now whenever we take them out in areas where there is any traffic. There is no way they can get out of these, and I feel so much more comfortable. It will be interesting to see if Pet Smart pulls them....they certainly should!

[Karen P]

Personally, I have bought a few of her linens and towels and they were made very poorly also. I will not buy anything Martha Stewart brand aymore. I complained directly to her company and they really did not care at all! Thank you for the warning on the leash it just reminded me not to purchase her brand!! I am glad that everything turned out OK !!