Someone Has To Be Crazy

U. S. Representative Steven King(R-Iowa) startled a lot of people with his strange ideas but it took a long time for a particular one to see the light of day.

Representative King added a amendment to the most recent farm bill that basically ties the hands of any current laws and organizations that defend and promote animal rights.  The bill would legalize high density cage laying hen farms and crowded conditions for hogs and cattle but the most outlandish of all parts would make it perfectly legal to fight dogs for entertainment.

It would also give legal protection for puppy mills.  

I don't know what kind of idiot this overblown lump of  arrogance was thinking but to stand by and not let him and his party know that this is un-American is an exercise in evil.

This would be legal if Mr. King has his way.

Does Your Dog Need Expensive Food?

Susan in her attire

This was posted on Truth About Pet Food and is written by Susan Thixton, a true dog food safety advocate.
Build A Better Dog and Jerry Pardue thanks Susan for her tireless and hope she is doing some major butt kicking at the AFFCO meeting in Florida this week.

The following message was sent to Money Talks News via their contact form…

Your recent story – “Does Your Dog Need Expensive Pet Food?” was full of incorrect and misleading statements.  “Complete breakdown of the dog food aisle”?  No, this is not even close.

The veterinarian you featured in your story is one of a dying breed.  Old school veterinarians that cannot comprehend the simple fact that quality nutrition DOES improve pet health are becoming the veterinarian that educated consumers avoid.  She speaks on a subject she clearly knows little of (pet food).  As example…

Dr. Heyerly DVM stated “If your dog doesn’t have a job, the protein is wasted.”

This is implying that higher cost pet foods all contain high levels of protein.  Some higher cost pet foods contain higher levels of protein, and some higher cost pet foods contain quality protein.  With pet food, the search for quality meat and vegetable ingredients is significant.

I would guess Dr. Heyerly and Money Talks News is not aware of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Compliance Policies that allow horrendous waste into pet food such as euthanized animals and 4D animals (dead, diseased, dying, disabled).  Federal law requires that all foods (human and animal) contain meat ONLY from slaughtered USDA inspected and approved animals.  However FDA provides the pet food industry loopholes to avoid these federal laws.  As example:  FDA CPG Sec. 690.300 states “Policy:  Pet food consistingof material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) will not ordinarily be actionable, if it is not otherwise in violation of the law. It will be considered fit for animal consumption.”

Pet food consisting of material from diseased animals will be considered fit for pet consumption.  Does Dr. Heyerly and Money Talk News believe this is appropriate pet food?  Even for a cheap price?

Without informing pet food consumers to seek out pet foods that contain quality ingredients (USDA inspected and approved meats and vegetables), Dr. Heyerly and Money Talk News is basically advising consumers that cheap pet foods using cheap waste meats sourced from diseased animals or euthanized animals – which are in violation of federal law – are suitable for the pet.  Again, is this what Money Talk News really wants to tell pet food consumers?

And Dr. Heyerly proves she has no understanding of the pet food industry with her statement “The ones that add in the by-products and fruits and veggies, the carbohydrates, are better foods all around for the dog.”  If the “by-products” are not USDA inspected and approved, such as the liver of a drugged, diseased animal, how in the world could this be a better dog food?

And then your advice Mr. Johnson…”Bottom line, if pet food prices give you pause, just take a look at the label.  Look for the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and find the cheapest price you can on the foods you need.”

Quality aside for a moment, on the pet food label the protein and fat in the pet food is required by state and federal law to be stated as minimum (not actual).  As example a Guaranteed Analysis of a dog food might state 18% protein and 6% fat on the label.  However the actual protein and fat percentage of the pet food could be 30% and 20% (respectively).  Plus, there is no requirement in pet food regulations to provide carbohydrate information on the label.  How can a consumer “look for the right amount of protein, carbohydrates” if the information is not provided or not stated as the actual amount?

I must ask you Mr. Johnson, knowing that FDA allows pet foods to contain waste ingredients rejected for use in human foods, do you still feel “cheapest price” is the best advice to pet food consumers?

I would be glad to provide Money Talk News (and Dr. Heyerly for that matter) with more information on how to find a true quality pet food sourced from quality ingredients.  Plus I would be able to provide Money Talk News with the names and contact information of veterinarians that understand that good health and good quality food go hand in hand.  If you are going to provide advice to pet food consumers, at least provide accurate information.

I would like a reply to this message.

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
AssociationforTruthinPetFood.com

This May Be About Fish But . . . .

This may be about fish but it is also about Hartz Mtn and also about the dreaded word salmonella.

Recall — Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Hartz Mountain Corporation is Voluntarily Recalling One Specific Lot of 1.2 oz. Size of Wardley Betta Fish Food Due to Possible Health Risk

Contact

Consumer:

1-800-275-1414

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 12, 2013 – SECAUCUS, N.J., /PRNewswire/ – The Hartz Mountain Corporation, located in Secaucus, N.J. is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Wardley Betta Fish Food 1.2 oz. size due to concerns that one or more containers within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall.

Salmonella is a bacterial organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in people, particularly young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products. Some healthy individuals infected with Salmonella may experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe or chronic illness.

The product was shipped nationwide from May 13, 2013 through June 4, 2013. In total, 8,112 1.2-oz. plastic containers of Wardley Betta Fish Food, UPC number 0-43324-01648, isolated to the lot code PP06331 (located on the bottom), which were packaged by Hartz at its Pleasant Plain, Ohio facility from a single production run, were shipped. Routine sample testing conducted by Hartz as part of its quality control procedures detected the presence of Salmonella in the lot specified. Hartz is aggressively investigating the source of the problem.

Although Hartz has not received any reports of illness to date in animals or humans as a result of coming into contact with this product, Hartz is taking immediate steps to remove the product from all retail stores and distribution centers. Fish owners who have purchased this product should check the lot code on their containers. If the code is not visible, or if the container has the following lot code PP06331 imprinted on it, they should immediately discontinue use of the product and discard in the trash.

Consumers can contact Hartz Consumer Affairs at 1-800-275-1414 (24 hours/day 7 days/week) with any questions they may have and to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.

SOURCE Hartz Mountain Corporation

This was originally posted by Marty Becker, DVM.

This May Be About Fish But . . . .

Beware of a Mouth Full of Words

Here is that mouth full-Menadione Sodium Bisulfate. Sounds very complicated doesn’t it. Truth About Pet Foods thinks so to and wants you to BEWARE.

Menadione Sodium Bisulfate. Menadione Sodium Bisulfate is a synthetic Vitamin K and a root of a great deal of controversy. Vitamin K is a required nutrient for cats and dogs, however pet food regulations do not specify the source (food sourced K or synthetic K) of the nutrition. That is with the exception of fish based cat foods; regulations require Menadione Sodium Bisulfate (and only Menadione Sodium Bisulfate) to be the vitamin K source in fish based cat foods.

The controversy with Menadione Sodium Bisulfate is to its safety. Some insist the ingredient is proven safe citing evidence from years of use in pet foods. Others question the safety of the ingredient citing opposing science (to ingredient safety). The Material Safety Data Sheet for Menadione Sodium Bisulfate states information is “Not available” as to the toxicity risk to animals. The Material Safety Data Sheet does not specify “safe for animals” – it says toxicity risk to animals is not available. Thus the controversy.

For more information on Menadione Sodium Bisulfate, click here.

Beware of a Mouth Full of Words

Probiotics-from Truth About Pet Food

Enterococcus Faecieum, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Saccharomyces Cerevesiae Fermentation Solubles, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract and similar. These very scientific sounding pet food ingredients are probiotics, known as friendly bacteria. Probiotics help keep your pet’s intestinal system working optimally which is key due to a major portion of the immune system located in the ‘gut’. Keeping your pet’s gut healthy helps build a strong immune system.

As with many pet food ingredients, probiotics can turn from a quality ingredient to a less than quality ingredient if the bacteria is not live and viable. Pet food consumers have two options to learn if the probiotics listed in the ingredients are a quality ingredient…

1. Look in the Guaranteed Analysis statement on the pet food label. If guarantee of “probiotics” or “micro-organisms” is listed, the consumer has the company word the live probiotics exists in the pet food.

2. Call the pet food manufacturer and ask “Do you guarantee the probiotics are live and viable?”

Probiotics-from Truth About Pet Food

Adoptathon Coming To K Mart In Burlington

The adoptathon will include the Humane Society of Alamance County, Paws 4Ever of Mebane, Highland Canine Training Center of Advance, and Build A Better Dog of Burlington, NC.

For all our dog friends around Burlington. Be there and you will meet and see some of the most amazing dogs and also some of the most amazing dog lovers

Adoptathon Coming To K Mart In Burlington

Meet Kent, A Beautiful Kitten

Gray Tabby and white Kent is just a kitten inside and out. He is sweet and loving but yet still loves to play. Born sometime around 5/15/10 Kent came to us when he was found by a college student who didn’t know what to do with him. He eventually need up with a kind hearted woman who found the Animal Rescue & Foster Program.

Kent is up-to-date with routine shots neutered. His adoption fee is $100. ARFP home delivers 200 miles roundtrip from Greensboro, NC. Click on his picture to learn more.

Meet Kent, A Beautiful Kitten