Evidence graph · finding
CorporateinfoVerified1952–
Ethical Products, Inc. (Ethical Pet / SPOT), Bloomfield NJ
Privately held, family-owned importer/distributor founded 1952 (BBB says 1951). ~50 employees, 150,000 sq ft DC at 27 Federal Plaza. Sells only through distributors. Divisions: Fashion Pet, Fieldcrest Farms. President Jonathan Zelinger.
Sources (5)
- Ethical Pet — About uscompany siteVerified
- Ethical Pet — Company historycompany siteVerified
- Ethical Pet — Contact (1-800-223-7768, cs@ethicalpet.com)company siteVerified
- Pet Age — Five Questions with President Jonathan Zelingertrade press2022-03-21VerifiedWe were Ethical before being ethical was trendy.
- LinkedIn company pagedirectoryVerified
Upstream: what leads here
- Nothing upstream.
Downstream: what this leads to
- Zelinger family ownership and officers
- Petex International Ltd (Hong Kong sourcing arm)
- BBB: not accredited; its only customer review is 1-star — no reply to calls or emails in two weeks
- 'Beast' refund form; treats and Pup Ice not covered
- No recall, safety, or testing page on ethicalpet.com
- Lennox v. Ethical Products (D.N.J. 2021): Nothin' to Hide 'contains rawhide', digestibility claims falsedefendant
- Five California Prop 65 notices (2013–2026); $78,500 paidalleged violator
- Pup Ice line distributed in US by Ethical Pet under its own UPCs (since June 2023)distributes
- Walmart 2026: Bam-Bones piece bitten off, dog choked; dogs swallowing plastic bitsSPOT chews
- Walmart 2025-11-19: Skinneeez 'DANGEROUS CHOKING HAZARD' — styrofoam and plastic insideSPOT toys
- 2015: SPOT mini teaser wand blamed for a cat's death; product pulled after BBB complaintSPOT cat toy
- TDBBS v. Ethical Products (D. Ariz. 2019): trade-secret suit over poached VP and new chews linedefendant
- Horsemen's Pride v. Ethical Products (D.N.J. 2017): patent suit over SPOT 'Stretch and Squeak' toysdefendant
- Thacker v. Ethical Products (E.D. Mo. 2010): kept selling licensed art after royalties stopped; © notices removeddefendant
- OurPet's Co. v. Ethical Products (N.D. Ohio 2019): trademark case dismissed within 3 monthsdefendant
- 26 TTAB proceedings policing 'SPOT'; two losses (Barq's 2003, Healthy Spot 2018)petitioner
- Kasmanoff v. Ethical Products (D.N.J. 1995): employment-discrimination suitdefendant
- Mission page: products 'must be safe for use by pets'; 'We will unconditionally refund any purchase'