October 10, 2002
Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Announces Recall of Stuffed Pool Animal

Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 310,000 stuffed polyester pool animals. The seams can separate exposing the polyester stuffing and foam beads. The foam beads pose a choking hazard to young children.

Dollar Tree Stores has received one report of the seam ripping, exposing the polyester stuffing and a plastic bag containing foam beads. No injuries have been reported.

There are eight types of stuffed polyester pool animals involved in this recall: crab, duck, frog, octopus, seahorse, shark, turtle and whale. The brightly colored stuffed animals have a sewn-in label that reads in part, "DOLLAR TREE DISTRIBUTION, INC.," "MADE IN CHINA" and "RN# 87254." Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express and Dollar Bills sold the stuffed animals nationwide from April 2002 through August 2002 for $1.

Consumers should take these stuffed animals away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers can call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's web site at www.dollartree.com.