Contaminated feed issue

[StevenKolbertDVM]

Sad Story. Recently one of my Eclectus females began to lose weight. Her diet is Chop which includes fresh veggies, some fruits depending on season, corn, peas and some rice, bulgur or other grains. I also occasionally give a small amount of some seed as a treat.
So one of my four began to look a little off and lost weight quickly. I was concerned and separated her so I could monitor her more closely. Over the course of a few days she lost more and ate less.
I am a veterinarian myself and normally take care of most issues but in this case I took her to a friend who a board certified Avian vet. She was worked up - blood tests, virus testing and so on. I began tube feeding and antibiotics, In spite of all after many day of struggle she passed on.

We sent her little body to the State Diagnostic lab where it was determined she died due to a massive fungal infection.
Sad story But wait there's more.

Keep in mind I have kept birds for 30 plus years and Never had any issues with mold or fungal infections. 2 yellow napes that I bought when I was in vet school many years ago and they have been with me for 30 plus years.

Just this past week I was getting to the end of the bag of feed I use for my cockatiels and conures and occasionally give a little to my Ekies as a treat and found a HUGE clump of mouldy feed in the bottom of the bag. The bag was clean and dry and kept in a sealed metal bin. I assume the mold was introduced in the bag at the factory .

So now I have an idea where the mold that contributed to my birds death came from. I have reached out to the seller( a national chain of pet supplies and veterinary medications that most are familiar with as well as to the manufacturer of the seed.
The initial response was. We don't pay for veterinary expenses and don't compensate for loss of life, I am awaiting their full response from their legal department.
Any thoughts on what they should do? Should I pursue them legally if they decline responsibility ?

 

[ashakantasharma]

Condolences for the loss of an Eclectus female pet. The pet supply chain and seed manufacturer's responsibility for the contamination is for sure a question mark.

The contamination could have serious health risks to birds, including fungal infections. If the supply chain and manufacturer fail to compensate for the bird's loss and veterinary expenses, legal action may be pursued. Documentation of all relevant information is also crucial. The decision to pursue legal action depends on the extent of the harm, the parties' response, and personal preferences. If negligence contributed to the bird's loss, it may be worth exploring legal options to prevent similar incidents in the future.

 

[Jcas]

I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful bird. It’s clear she was very loved and well cared for and that you gave her a wonderful life. I know that in our grief we are always looking for answers and the decision to pursue legal action is entirely up to you. However, there is a very real possibility that it will get you nowhere. The manufacturer may not be responsible at all as the contamination could have occurred after it left the factory. Perhaps the bag got wet in transit or was improperly stored. I hope that you are able to find peace in your loss .