What's in this Dog Food Anyway?

Rick Patterson

Attorney

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It will probably come as no surprise that the pet food industry takes in billions of dollars every year in sales. Many pet owners have given this industry blind trust. At the very least, many consumers probably thought that 'someone' was overseeing this industry. Of late, the eyes of consumers have been opened.

It is disturbing to know that the pet food industry is practically self-regulated. According to Ann N. Martin's in a recent Earth Island Journal the only requirement the pet food industry must adhere to is with respect to labeling. The Labeling Act states that pet food must list the name and address of the company that produced the pet food. The label must also state whether the food is intended for cats or dogs, in addition to a couple of other practically useless details. However, the source of the protein in the pet food can be from practically any source: condemned material from slaughterhouses, road-kill, zoo animals and even euthanized companion animals. I am quite sure that it will not surprise you to know that the pet food industry denies that any companian pets are used in pet food. However, that makes it difficult to explain the presence pentobarbital, the drug used to euthanize animals.

With the latest pet food recall fiasco, people are beginning to question what they have been feeding their pets. Their trust has be betrayed. Exactly what is in this pet food? We know the rates of cancer, liver and kidney disease; autoimmume diseases; allergies; and skin problems have greatly increased in the years since the industry grew. Knowing that, it is time to take control back and learn more about this money making industry that has killed countless pets and made billions in the process.