The Ottawa-based Consumer Law Group says Diamond Pet Food and Costco are now paying out varying amounts to settle damage claims from Canadians whose pets required screening and/or treatment when some were exposed to Salmonella in 2011 and 2012. A class action law firm first announced the settlement in March. Consumer Law Group led the class action lawsuit against Diamond Pet Foods as the manufacturer and Costco as the distributor after the pet illnesses and some deaths occurred.  Diamond and Costco are not accepting any formal  responsibility, but to agreed settle the litigation with the represented pet owners ranging from reimbursement for pet food purchases to assistance paying actual veterinary bills or costs involving pets’ deaths. Attorney Jeff Ornstein, who heads the class action firm, said Costco is notifying 115,000 customers who purchased the poisoned pet food by an automated phone call, announcing that the settlement is available. To be eligible, consumers must have purchased Diamond Pet Food, recalled on April 6, 26 or 30, 2012,  or on May 4-5, 2012, and did not return the recalled produced or exchange, and did not already sign a release with Diamond or Costco. In the class action filing, one consumer’s dog is said to have become extremely ill — with vomiting, running diarrhea, dehydration, and loss of consciousness — requiring treatment and lab tests by a veterinarian. A Diamond pet food brand made for Costco and sold as Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula made that dog sick, according to the plaintiffs. The companies told the consumer about the Salmonella contamination but  refused to compensate them for the veterinary bills because the consumer did not have a empty bag or proof of purchase for the dog food. No dog food receipt is required to be included in the settlement. Additional information can be found on the claims website. Details for veterinary services along with a sworn statement is required for the more pricy claims. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)