| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT:Ken Giles |
| November 26, 1996 |
(301) 504-7052 |
| Release # 97-031 |
| |
CPSC and Waters Instruments Announce Recall of K-9 Electric Fence Controllers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Waters Instruments Inc. of Rochester, Minn., is recalling about 13,000 Model K-9 Electric Fence Controllers, a box used to control the electricity in electric fences. The K-9 Electric Fence Controllers used outdoors in high humidity or wet environments can overheat and result in fire.
Waters has received three reports of overheating occurring in K-9 Electric Fence Controllers used in an unprotected outdoor setting where they are subjected to high humidity or water. Two controller cases showed signs of melting and one controller installed under a porch caused charring of the wooden flooring.
The K-9 Electric Fence Controllers with serial numbers starting with MT08096 and MT09096 have a yellow, black, and red label that reads, "American FarmWorks K-9 ELECTRIC FENCE CONTROLLER." The K-9 Electric Fence Controllers sold individually came packaged in a plastic shell with a yellow backer card. Waters also sold the units as part of a pet and garden fence kit, packaged in a yellow, black, and red box with a picture of the K-9 Electric Fence Controller printed on the box.
Hardware and farm supply stores sold the K-9 Electric Fence Controllers nationwide beginning in April 1996 for about $28.
Consumers should stop using the K-9 Electric Fence Controllers immediately and call Waters at (800) 962-2880 for information on returning the merchandise for replacement with a unit not adversely affected by climate.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.