Putting a Price on Puppy Love

March 20, 2007 — -- Millions of Americans treat their pets as family. Now a growing number of pet owners are taking that love to an entirely different, more litigious level.

Reports of pets killed or injured by toxic pet food are on the rise and so are the stakes for animal owners and pet-food makers.

The pet-food recall initiated during the weekend by Menu Foods of Canada -- covering more than 100 brands -- comes on the heels of food poisonings last year that killed 75 dogs.

The Food and Drug Administration will review the latest details in the tainted pet food recall Friday, March 30, at 10 a.m. ET. Watch the news conference live on ABC News Now.

In January 2006, Diamond Pet Foods recalled about 20 brands after pets died from a toxic fungus, aflatoxin, in the food. The cause of the latest sicknesses from Menu products are still under investigation but may be tied to tainted wheat gluten in the food.

S&M NuTec, the makers of Greenies dog chews, is the subject of a $5 million suit brought by New Yorkers Michael Eastwood and Jennifer Reiff. They allege that the green chewy treats killed their 4-year-old miniature dachshund in 2005 because the material went undigested in the animal's intestine.

They sued after S&M NuTec e-mailed them a settlement offer of $8,587. The offer was meant to cover veterinary costs and the replacement of the dog, the company said in the e-mail.

Alan Sash, a lawyer at McLaughlin & Stern LLP in New York City who represents the New York couple, is seeking class-action status in a Missouri court on behalf of 10 pet owners in eight states connected to the Greenies poisonings.

"A lot of people feel that pets who are companions should have more value to them legally than what has been the case in the past," Sash said. "It's exceedingly difficult for the average pet owner to take a case like this to court, which is why we are seeking class-action status."

Sash said he expected hearings in the case to begin this summer.

In instances where pets have died because of negligence, economic value has generally ranged from several hundred dollars for a mixed breed animal to several thousand dollars for a pure breed, Sash said.