INDIANA COUNTY, Pa. -- The following report by Channel 4 Action News Westmoreland Bureau Chief Jennifer Miele first aired on Channel 4 Action News at 6 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2006.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration believes 100 dogs nationwide have died after eating tainted food.

Liz was a beagle that Kelly Buggey handpicked from the Humane Society in Indiana four months ago.

"I just saw this little beagle there, and I was always in love with beagles. From then, I just felt in my heart that we had a connection," said Kelly. "My sister would bull hug her, even when she was eating, and she would never snap."

The Buggey family fed Liz Diamond Premium adult food -- a brand that's since been recalled.

A poison called aflatoxin has been pinpointed as the possible cause. It's a chemical byproduct from fungus growth on corn and other crops.

One day, Liz stopped eating the food.

"We would give her meat and put it in the old food to get her to eat it. But she wouldn't," said Shane Buggey.

The Buggeys went to the store to buy her new food and noticed the old brand had been recalled.

But they said nobody ever told them the food could be making Liz sick.

Soon after, Liz became disoriented and weak.

After several days of waiting out what the vet told them could be the flu, they finally took Liz to the vet.

Not long after, she was dead.

After realizing she'd been eating the recalled food, veterinarians now believe the food killed Liz.

After hearing about what happened, the Humane Society has offered the Buggeys a new dog free of charge. But the family says it won't replace Liz.

If your dog ingested any of the recalled food and begins to symptoms -- things like yellowing of the eyes and gums, a loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea -- doctors say do not hesitate to get your pet to the vet.

Eighteen kinds of pet food under three brand names -- Diamond, Country Value and Professional -- have been recalled

The full list of recalls and symptoms to look for is posted at diamondpetrecall.net.

Related:
December 21, 2005: Diamond Pet Food Recalled In 23 States