On April 17, 2026 the FDA announced a recall of Breeder’s Edge Foster Care Canine and Shelter’s Choice Canine Milk Replacers. What led up to this recall and what has NOT happened after is both heartbreaking and heartless.
On January 13, 2026, Hazel House Animal Rescue in Oregon took in a litter of nine newborn puppies, many with umbilical cords still attached. These puppies had been abandoned near a dumpster, discovered by a Good Samaritan. Hazel House Animal Rescue immediately began to care for the puppies, and named them after the Brady Bunch: Carol, Alice, Peter, Greg, Mike, Bobby, Jan, Cindy, and Marcia.
Quote from Hazel House Animal Rescue: “Since they were orphaned neonatal puppies, they required around-the-clock bottle feeding to survive. We exclusively fed the puppies Breeder’s Edge Foster Care Puppy Milk Replacer that is supposed to provide complete nutrition with digestive and immune support. But, at approximately 4 weeks old, something started going terribly wrong.”
“First one puppy began limping. Then another. Then another. One puppy, Greg, could not walk and four of his siblings began struggling as well. What we initially feared were isolated injuries quickly became something much bigger.”
“Multiple veterinary visits, x-rays, specialist consultations, bloodwork, endocrinology review, genetic testing, and FDA involvement ultimately led to a diagnosis of nutritional rickets. The puppies’ bones were so weak that fractures developed and, in some cases, bones began collapsing under their own weight.”
Needless to say, Hazel House Animal Rescue was forced to spend A LOT of money to treat these puppies for serious health issues all due to a recalled, improperly formulated canine milk replacer. Today, five puppies need further surgery to repair the damages of nutritional rickets. The rescue is trying to raise $100,000 to cover surgeries, rehabilitation, veterinary bills, and ongoing recovery care.
But…what about the formula manufacturer? Shouldn’t they be responsible for the damages their products caused?
Breeder’s Edge Puppy Milk Replacer’s manufacturer Revival Animal Health, and its owner Incline Equity Partners has – to date – not agreed to cover the costs of treatment for the puppies.
From Hazel House Animal Rescue: “For months, Hazel’s House Rescue attempted to resolve this matter privately with Revival Animal Health, the manufacturer of the Breeder’s Edge Puppy Milk Replacer the puppies were exclusively fed. Unfortunately, no agreement has been reached with the company that would provide all of the necessary funding for the surgeries, rehabilitation, veterinary expenses, and ongoing care these puppies require due to the lasting effects of the imbalanced formula.”
Hazel House Animal Rescue has filed a lawsuit against Revival Animal Health. The concern is while puppies are in dire need of surgery now, the lawsuit could take months or years to be resolved. Click Here to read the lawsuit.
Quote from the lawsuit:
“The FDA identified deficiencies in six nutrients: Calcium, Phosphorus, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, and Potassium. Of particular significance, Calcium and Phosphorus levels were measured at approximately 35% and 39% (respectively) of AAFCO minimum requirements for growth. Calcium and Phosphorus are the very nutrients most directly implicated in the development of metabolic bone disease and fractures.”
When will Revival Animal Health and its owner Incline Equity Partners do the right thing?
We sent the following email to Revival Animal Health and Incline Equity Partners:
Your recalled product – Breeder’s Edge Puppy Milk Replacer – resulted in the diagnosis of nutritional rickets in multiple puppies cared for by Hazel House Animal Rescue. This Animal Rescue has been forced to file a lawsuit against your company because you have failed to take responsibility for your improperly formulated product.
You have choices. You can show pet owners you are a responsible pet product company that accepts financial responsibility for the damages your products caused – or you can continue to do nothing which will prove to pet owners Revival Animal Health and Incline Equity Partners could care less about pets. Which will it be?
Five puppies need surgery. Do the right thing. Write the check! Today!
I encourage every pet owner to contact Revival Animal Health and Incline Equity Partners. Let them know you are aware they have failed to take financial responsibility for the damages their puppy formula caused the puppies at Hazel House Animal Rescue.
Revival Animal Health
800.786.4751
info@revivalanimal.com
Incline Equity Partners
412.315.7800
Website contact form: https://inclineequity.com/contact/
Also – Revival Animal Health manufactures multiple products that veterinarians use including vaccinations and dewormers. Please notify your veterinarian to this horrible puppy milk replacer formulation error. All veterinarians need to be aware of this company’s history.
If you would like to donate to Hazel House Animal Rescue, they have established a Go Fund Me page specifically for the care of these puppies. Click Here.
To follow the story of these puppies, go to Hazel House Animal Rescue’s Facebook page.
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Consumer Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Sher Williams
June 4, 2026 at 2:17 pm
I’ve been breeding JRT’s for 40 years exclusively. I was hoping to see that others using this product were having the same issues with the milk product. I looked into Revivals products for breeding bitches and studs claiming to support breeding health last year. The online reviews were enough to keep me from buying from them.
But given this is one litter of unknown origin and genetic background, I can’t see the reason for the lawsuit other than a rescue going overboard trying to fix these pups and their wallet. Bad image for rescues in an era of fraud and corruption. The rescue is trying to raise $100,000 to cover surgeries, rehabilitation, veterinary bills, and ongoing recovery care. Shame on Hazel House!
Susan Thixton
June 4, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Clearly you spoke harshly of this rescue without reading all the information I provided in this post. Genetic testing was performed on the puppies to confirm “nutritional rickets”. This is NOT a rescue trying to scam anyone! This is a rescue trying to save puppies from the damage a confirmed bad product – labeled as complete and balanced – did to them.
Ann Lewis
June 4, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Sher Williams, Shame on YOU!! Your comments about Hazel’s House Rescure are WAY out of line. I have been following and supporting this rescue in my local community for a number of years. They do amazing work to rescue, care for, and do the very best for animals they take in, including rehabbing animals that have suffered terrible abuse. Your implication that this lawsuit filed against the manufacturer of defective and unhealthy products is some kind of a sham, or money grab is flat out WRONG. Please, in the future, before you post something, do more research. I hope that your ill informed and heartless post does not cause anyone else to doubt that Hazel’s House has anything but the best intentions to help these puppies get better and survive and thrive. Maybe your irresponsible and nasty comments will have people thinking twice about ever purchasing a puppy from your breeding operation.
Kathleen
June 5, 2026 at 1:04 pm
You think because this happened at a shelter those puppies are not entitled to compensation? Shelters of all places cannot afford to fix this type of damage, operating on a shoestring. You sound extremely high and mighty, I sure hope you have donated a good amount to the go fund me, being a breeder and being able to afford it.
Bethany
June 4, 2026 at 2:38 pm
Local shelters need to be made aware as well.
Cheri Fun Fellinger
June 4, 2026 at 3:46 pm
As breeder with 45+ years experience I too had problems with Breeder’s Edge products. For the first time in my breeding history I had 3 litters of failing puppies. I had to buy an oxygen machine & incubator and hand feed all the surviving babies. Luckily the survivors are fine. The only thing I did differently with the moms was use BE Bitch supplement. I contacted them and they refunded my money but I had spent over $10K and lost at least another $10K after all was said and done not to mention the broken heart. It was 2.5 yrs before I had the heart to have another litter. I will never use or recommend their products.
Kathleen
June 5, 2026 at 1:12 pm
We need to spread the word about this around the world and put those businesses out of business. There are millions of dog owners in the world who would be furious about this, and starting a boycott should be easy. I agree with Susan, notify you vets also.
Michelle Isenhoff
June 14, 2026 at 11:38 pm
I’m horrified (by not surprised) by yet another case of corporate corruption at the expense of the innocent. I donated to the GoFundMe, emailed this company, and shared the story on social media. Thank you, Hazel House, and Truth about Pet Food, for all you do.