PetSmart will no longer sell jerky treats from China come 2015, after over 1,000 dogs reportedly died after consumption.
According to the Associated Press the chicken, duck and sweet potato products have also sickened at least 4,800 animals since 2007, forcing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to declare the product unsafe and remove it from store shelves.
A PetSmart spokesperson told NBC News that the company reached the decision after long deliberation.
"By March 2015, PetSmart will no longer sell dog and cat treats manufactured in China. This is something we've been working toward for some time, and feel it's the right thing to do for pets and our customers," Erin Gray said.
The FDA has advised pet owners Friday to ask animal doctors what treats were best for their mammal.
"The [FDA] continues to caution pet owners that jerky treats are not required for a balanced diet and encourage them to consult with their veterinarians, both prior to feeding treats and if they notice symptoms in their pets," the agency said in a press release.
According to AP, officials are concerned animals will continue to become ill if they eat the product.
The administration does not believe amantadine - an anti-viral drug that officials discovered in certain treats - led to the sicknesses, however. The case remains under investigation.
PetSmart's announcement comes one day after PetCo unveiled plans to remove the treats from all of the retailer's shelves before the year's end.
PetCo's CEO said the retailer is ready to correct the matter.
"We've been following the FDA warnings and related customer concerns closely, and we've been actively reducing our China-made assortment and expanding our American-made offerings for several years now," Myers said. "We know the FDA hasn't yet identified a direct cause for the reported illnesses, but we decided the uncertainty of the situation outweighs the lack of actual proof. It has taken some time and careful thought to get to this point, but we're proud to make the change and we believe our customers will be pleased with it as well."
The company has already started reducing the amount of jerky treats it sells.
