| In March 2007, most pet owners grew very | | | | euthanized animals, including stomach contents, blood |
| concerned about the food they were feeding their | | | | and hooves, cooked until the grease from it rises |
| dogs and cats with the announced melamine-poisoned | | | | where it is removed and the moisture squeezed out. It |
| foods on the market. Being "mom" to my adorable and, | | | | also may contain foreign materials such as metals, hair, |
| I thought, very well-cared for King Charles Spaniel, I | | | | glass, mold, pesticide contamination and more. |
| watched the lists daily with worry. I had believed the | | | | Fat is usually listed high on the ingredients in pet foods |
| food I was feeding him was high quality and safe, yet I | | | | that give off an appealing odor so that our pets will eat |
| visited their website daily for reassurance. And daily I | | | | the garbage. They are made up of rancid restaurant |
| read that the food was safe, they didn't use products | | | | grease and rendered refuse often filled with impurities |
| from China, trust them. | | | | such as hair, hide, bone, dirt or polyethylene. |
| My dog started to experience diarrhea the day we | | | | Corn flour, corn bran, corn gluten meal are the corn |
| moved to a new home. Being a sensitive soul for | | | | products left when all the nutritious ingredients, used in |
| whom stress has this effect, I didn't worry much until | | | | human products, are removed. |
| day 3 when it not only continued but seemed to | | | | Wheat flour, wheat germ meals, are nothing more than |
| worsen. Again, I checked the websites to see if his | | | | what is swept off the mill floors after everything has |
| food was on any of the recall lists. It wasn't. That night | | | | been processed. |
| I had the news on in the background, sitting straight up | | | | Artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives, |
| when the latest list was announced - his food, the food | | | | including those believed to be carcinogenic and are |
| that "had never used products from China", was on | | | | banned from human foods like BHT, BHA, Ethoxyquin, |
| the list. They lied. | | | | Propyl Gallate. |
| I had been poisoning my beloved best friend. | | | | If you can read that and then open a can or bag of |
| Of course, I immediately disposed of the poisoned | | | | food for your pet and feed it tonight, you have a |
| garbage and the next day, started cooking for my dog, | | | | stronger stomach than I do! |
| thinking it would be temporary until the problems were | | | | That's why I now cook for my dog. I know exactly |
| resolved. I began to research what my dog needed | | | | what he's eating and that it is good quality, nutritious |
| nutritionally to make sure I was giving him everything | | | | and safe (as safe as any of our food is these days). |
| he required to be healthy and happy. | | | | The added benefit is that it's even less expensive! I |
| It was that research that shocked me, then just made | | | | watch for specials, especially for meats, and stock up |
| me furious beyond description. I found out what was | | | | the freezer when I find them, which is often. A lot of |
| really in dog food (and cat food and other pet foods), | | | | meat and chicken is greatly reduced in price when its |
| and it is disgusting, dangerous and poison garbage | | | | shelf life is nearing its end, and fine if its cooked or |
| even without the melamine. I was sickened by what I | | | | frozen immediately. |
| learned, knowing I had been feeding this to my pets for | | | | I only spend a couple of hours or so once a month |
| years, thinking I was doing right by them with the | | | | cooking up a big batch of food, placing it in small |
| "high-quality" foods I paid premium price for. Not any | | | | containers with about 3 - 4 meals in each one (he eats |
| more. Never again. | | | | twice a day), freezing it until I need it. I add a couple of |
| Here are some of the "quality" ingredients in your pet's | | | | tablespoons of low-fat plain yogurt to a serving, mix it |
| food: | | | | up and "nuke" it for about a minute to get it warm and |
| "meat and poultry by-products" is material that comes | | | | delicious for him. He loves it! |
| from the slaughterhouse and dead animals, such as | | | | Best, he looks terrific, better than he ever did before, |
| road kill and euthanized companion animals, classified | | | | his coat gleaming, his eyes sparkling, endless energy, |
| as condemned and unfit for human consumption. It | | | | perfect weight and a healthy, happy glow. |
| includes lungs (even when filled with pneumonia), | | | | This is not a difficult thing to do! There are many |
| spleen, brains, livers (including those infested with | | | | excellent recipes available and now there are |
| worms), bone, beaks, feet, heads, cancerous tissues... | | | | cookbooks dedicated to pet food recipes, including |
| the list goes on. Be assured, if it is remotely fit for | | | | good quality treats and biscuits that your pet will adore |
| human consumption, it isn't in your pet's food. | | | | and that you can feel great about giving them. I |
| "meat and bone meal" is the ground refuse from | | | | recommend doing some research first so that you |
| restaurants and grocery stores, dead stock, road kill, | | | | know your pet is getting everything he needs. |