It was just about a year ago when the pet food recalls began and we heard about cats and dogs dying of mysterious causes. With all the press and uproar about the tainted food manufactured for our pets, the problem's been handled, right?

Unfortunately, no. While there are no widespread recalls at this time, problems still exist. A Canadian boy contracted two rare forms of Salmonella from pork dog treats made by the Rollover Premium Pet Food company. (Treats from the High-River, Alberta, plant have been recalled.)

Regulations were passed in 2007 to require pet food companies to recall any food that was tainted. But critics say that this legislation is ineffective because reporting is voluntary - no Federal inspections are required on pet food products. This lack of oversight has prompted many people to buy organic or "natural" products for their pets. This sector of the animal food business has boomed since the tainted food recalls started in March 2007.

But are these products any safer? Many people feel that they are, since the "healthy" pet food companies are marketing "human-grade" meat and organic ingredients. And most of these producers have a better record. But the same problem exists for these companies - no one is looking over their shoulder to make sure the food is safe.

Some dedicated pet lovers have even gone to home-made or raw food diets for their animals. Before you make this kind of commitment, I recommend talking at length with your Veterinarian first to learn how to meet the nutritional needs of your animals.

The future of pet food safety may include stronger regulations. Some pet advocates are calling for the FDA to regulate the pet food industry and have access to production plants in China. On the bright side, pet food companies seem to be making an effort to keep food safe. After all, they are in the business of selling pet food, and the negative press is very bad for business. For now, keep an eye on the news for recalls and confer with your Veterinarian about safe and healthy foods for your pets.

Amy G. Casey is CEO of Pet Health Focus (http://www.pethealthfocus.com), and an award-winning science writer and author of numerous science and pet health books and articles. Amy's experiences with her dog's health issues brought her love of animals and her research and science experience together to help others care for their pet companions.

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Labels: Pet Supply Store

Pet food can be expensive, particularly if you follow the current marketing trends and buy the fashionable 'natural', 'holistic' or 'lifestyle' brands. These have been created not only to fill the need for better quality pet foods but also to persuade pet owner to trade up to more expensive products with a better profit margin. It makes good commercial sense!

Yes, feeding a pet can be expensive, particularly if you have a dog or cat, and there's plenty of advertising and marketing pressure to get you to part with a lot of money to feed the many different foods out there on the pet shop and supermarket shelves. Add the words 'Natural' 'Holistic' or similar to a brand and watch the price go up!

Bear in mind that big brands such as Pedigree, Iams, Eucanuba and Royal Canin spend £millions on advertising, research and sponsorship through the year (How much does it cost Pedigree to sponsor Crufts? A lot!) This money has to be recovered, and that's through increasing sales but also larger profit margins - it's common sense if you think about it.

However, there are several ways that you can feed a good quality food and save a considerable amount of money.

Buying a 15kg bag of dog food works out cheaper per meal than buying a 2kg bag (Eucanuba Adult is listed on one site at £39.99 for 15kg, £21.49 for 7.5kg and £11.29 for 3kg - do the maths and see what you save.)

If you can't carry a big bag home then have it delivered - several brands and online pet shops offer free or minimal postal charges, and you get the food delivered to your door. Other pet shops have their own delivery service in their catchment area - check them out!

Some shops offer bulk deals - Pet Planet in Jan 2008 list Eucanuba 15kg as buy 2 save £20!! If you can store it and use it in a reasonable time, then why not save a few well earned £££s?

If you are feeding a cat, the same applies - many pet shops or online stores will deliver tins in bulk. Ask, and they should offer you a quantity discount that you can offset against the delivery charge if there is one.

Some pet shops offer their own brands, particularly on bags of dog food. Are they cheaper because they are poorer quality than the more well known brand? Not necessarily, because of two factors.

Firstly, they are probably made by the same company that makes the well known brand! A handful of pet food manufacturers make food for brands like James Wellbeloved, Arden Grange and Burns Pet Nutrition but also make food for hundreds of other companies and pet shops, using the same machinery, similar ingredients and following the principles of the trade organisation PFMA. There are only a few manufacturers around, and plenty of brands - you might think that the brand you buy is made by that company, but you may well be wrong, it could well be made by the company that makes your local supermarket brand!

The easy way to check is look at the ingredient list and see what the food is made of, then compare the cost between the shop food and the branded food - similar ingredients but £s cheaper? Then why not try the shop brand - if it doesn't suit, a good pet shop will replace the food.

Secondly there's the profit chain. Pet Shop brands are cheaper because there are fewer middlemen taking a cut of the retail price (A prime example would be the new premium Pets at Home food in its shiny new bag. A 15kg of dog food retails at under £30, up to £9 cheaper than some others for a recipe which is as natural and hypo-allergenic as any premium food on the market - and a money-back guarantee!).

Then there's the range of products around - check out the different brands, and you'll be surprised at what's out there these days and the opportunity to save money and not compromise on quality. Check out recommendations on brands

You don't need to buy expensive treats for dogs. Have you discovered the delights of giving them small pieces of carrot or broccoli/cauliflower stalk?

No? Why not, because they are cheap, natural and actually do your pet a bit of good, unlike some of the other stuff on the market. These are all naturally sweet, and many dogs simply love them!

The author, who originally trained as a food technologist has, in his time owned dogs, cats, hamsters and birds, sold pet food and spent the past decade marketing it. Now down to one cat, one dog and running Pet Food Choice, a website full of information on pet food choices, money-saving ideas and much more - http://www.pet-food-choice.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Birch

Labels: Pet Supply Store

Animal Control officer is my title yet they call me a "killer". I am a mom a wife and a hard worker. I am also the last face most animals at my job see. I feed them and love them and speak to them words of kindness, yet this does not stop what is about to happen. These animals had owners, they have collars, but no tags. They have no understanding of why they were left behind and no one is looking for them. Most were a free puppy or kitten from a Wal-Mart parking lot and are "replaceable". Some run loose all the time and owners think they will come back in three or for days. However in our shelter time is precious. Most city shelters only hold animals for 72 hours and then they euthanize them. Everyday that an animal spends in our shelter is a day of waiting for their owner. Hoping that the next person that walks into the kennel will take them to a new home or their original home. However, eight times out of ten that does not happen. Please help stop the killing and spay and neuter your animals.

I have heard individuals state that they want their animal to have the first litter. Stating that it will calm down their female animal. Another person stated to me once that they did not even know why they wanted their female to have a litter they just thought it was "cool". How "cool" it is when part of the litter gets euthanized because they did not find homes for the puppies. Backyard breeding is very common. These individuals do not monitor their female animal and most often they breed with anything that is loose and jumps into the fence. Then they can't understand why they can't find homes for mixed breed puppies. I encourage everyone to please spay and neuter your pets and stop the killing. If you would like more information about the shelter I work for go to:

http://www.neblina14.com

Thank you, and God Bless.

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Labels: Pet Supply Store