Man finds abandoned mystery breed puppy at the grocery store. Then he gives her Hartz dog shampoo: ‘I use veterinary formula from Walmart’
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A man found a mystery dog outside the grocery store. Then he posted a video about the dog and asked what breed it was, leading to a wave of commenters warning his family about Hartz dog shampoo.
“Not sure what kind of puppy it is, but it sure is cute. It's a little girl. She's all white, head to toe. White. But can anybody tell us what kind of dog she is?” said Safamily (@lasora.fan19 on TikTok). The family's initial post received more than 851,000 views, while an update received more than 25,000 views.
The family account seemed concerned with what type of dog it was at first, but commenters quickly warned them that they needed to take the dog to a veterinarian. According to them, there were bigger issues than the puppy's breed, which included the use of Hartz' shampoo and a lack of updates regarding the puppy's condition.
Commenters express concerns
Safamily, who runs a family-based TikTok account alongside his wife, picked up a small white puppy outside his local grocery store. The dog was sitting in one family member's — Sarah's — lap, while the TikToker described how he found it.
Safamily said, “It was getting kicked out because it kept following people inside [the grocery store], but I have no idea what it is. So we got some of our dog's food and water set out for it in case it gets hungry. And Sarah keeps trying to dress it up in dresses and.. tutus and bringing it toys to play with.”
The family had seemingly grown an attachment to the dog, naming it Emily. Viewers, however, expressed concerns about the dog's condition. In the video, the puppy's head visibly drooped toward Sarah's leg. Multiple commenters noticed that the dog appeared to be sick.
“She's very sick. Please get her to the vet ASAP,” one viewer said.
Another said that the dog was “a sick pitty mix,” referencing the family's earlier question about the dog's breed.
A lack of update
From May 19, when the family initially posted about the dog, to May 21, the family posted no updates about the puppy on TikTok. They posted other content, but viewers expressed additional concerns about the dog's well-being.
“Hey! We want a pupdate even if it's a sad one,” one commenter said.
Another viewer added, “the lack of puppy update tells me everyone in the comments was right.”
Eventually, Safamily posted another video about the dog. They renamed the pet Helen from Emily and had washed her with a Hartz Groomer's Best Puppy Shampoo. They were also giving the dog worm medicine and had learned she had an eye infection, which they were treating.
Washing the dog ended up creating another issue for commenters.
Viewers weigh in on Hartz shampoo
Multiple viewers told Safamily that using Hartz shampoo could be a deadly decision.
“Please do your research on Hartz dog shampoo.. not good at all,” one viewer said.
Another added, “Please be careful with Hartz!”
Hartz shampoo contains the chemical component phenothrin, which according to Vet Advises, “has been linked to various health issues in canines.” It can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions, which can in rare cases lead to vomiting and seizures. Other harmful ingredients, such as parabens, contain carcinogens that may cause cancer.
Claims that Hartz shampoo has directly killed other people's pets, however, are largely unfounded. A report from Best Pet Facts found that most evidence that the shampoo has killed animals comes from “anecdotal evidence” and “misinterpretations of data.” The publication said that “while there have been some reported incidents of adverse reactions to Hartz products, these are rare and often attributed to misuse or individual sensitivities.”
Viewers recommend alternatives
Commenters had a few alternative product recommendations, especially considering Hartz's notoriety.
“Never use hartz I use veterinary formula from Walmart works good,” one viewer said. Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Flea & Tick Shampoo is paraben-free, which contrasts some viral claims about Hartz.
Another commenter recommended Dawn dish soap, although the brand does not fully prevent or get rid of fleas and ticks.
Regardless, viewers were happy to see that the dog was doing better and that the family was treating her conditions.
“Thank you for doing an amazing job for her and getting her medicine, giving her love, and adopting her so that she will have a beautiful home for her entire life,” one viewer said.
Buzz News reached out to Safamily via TikTok direct message and comment, as well as Hartz via email. This story will be updated if either party responds.
@lasora.fan19 Please help!
