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Darren September 20th, 2007
Nothing but the Best for Some Lucky Cats and Dogs
A recent report from ABC News is covering the topic of organic foods for pets. The move toward organic foods for many pet owners is stemming from the problems reported on China-made pet food products. As stated in the article, “Pet owners are worried after recent reports came out about a chemical additive in pet foods linked to Chinese manufacturers that was making pets sick.” See our pet food recall coverage for more information.
As a result, business for organic pet foods is picking up. Lou Whitney, the owner of Pet Shop Girls in Boston, reported that the result has been “increased business” with “literally dozens” more people coming in on a daily basis. He continues:
“you’d be surprised to discover what most pets end up eating when their owners give them conventional pet food, even when it’s not contaminated — which is, of course, most of the time.”
“They’re finding things in the food that are more associated with filler materials, such as corn, corn meals,” he said. “And so, they’re looking at the backs of these packages … And then they start to think, ‘Well, wait a minute, should the dog be eating corn, anyway?’”
Whitney makes a provocative argument that all this corn consumption is making pets sick, pointing to “the amount of cats and dogs that are becoming diabetic, that are having major organ failure, that are having significant joint and hip problems.”
“I mean, if you think about it, these animals are designed to be healthy and be athletic, and whatever else, and because of what we are feeding them, we’re turning them into nonfunctioning machines.”
Another dog owner featured in the story, Kate Bailey, “was in the market for some dessert for her dog.”
“We’re going to get some ice cream, actually, today,” she said.
So Bailey, who admitted that her father and brothers mock her for all this, got out of the store with a week’s worth of pet food for under 20 bucks, including Frosty Paws, a frozen dog treat.
What about the costs of organic dog food?
According to Bailey, she estimates she spends about 15 percent more for the organic pet foods over the conventional.
Bailey said it does cost more than conventional pet food, but not that much more on average. She said it will only cost her about 15 percent more to feed her pet the organic food.
Readers Respond
A lot of you will snicker as soon as you hear the words “organic pet food.” It’s true that some people find it exceedingly funny that some other people treat their pets exceedingly well.
One person under the alias “3Houndsmom” had some strong opinions about the organic foods debate:
Why is it that when pets are fed a good nutritious diet it is considered “pampering”. We expect parents to feed their human children good nutritious diets, but when pet parents feed their fur children good nutritious diets it is mocked on, laughed at and reported on the news. I love my fur kids as much as any human child. Just because they are not human does not make them less in my eyes. Why would I not feed them the best food I can afford for them? In the light of these pet food recalls and all of the pets being harmed and killed buy cheap, nasty garbage foods my dog are blissfully happy and healthy, having never been fed any of them. In general my dogs have less health issues and less trips to the vet. . .
Josshie39 responded by encouraging 3Houndsmom in her comments:
you stick to your guns. People who equate pets as anything less important than our children are sick. I had my cat 15 years, she was my sweet companion during some hard times in my life. I lost her to 4 months of suffering during the bad pet food crisis, before it was brought to light in the media. I found out 2 days after I held her the last time and had to have her put to sleep, the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Don’t EVER let any small minded hypocrite with no feelings tell you that we can’t or shouldn’t care for our pets by providing them with healthy, nutritious food, and all the love that we can. Our pets provide us with unconditional love. It’s not too much to ask to provide them with safe diets and to protect them from crappy food that makes them sick so they can save money.
Full Story
Your Opinion
What do you think about organic foods for pets? Have you switched over to organic pet food? If so, why or why not?
From around the web
Organic pet food gets paws up
Is organic food the best way to keep pets healthy?
Subscription/Research Resources:
Organic Food for Fido Part of a Growing Trend
An organic world for pets critics challenge whether it’s the best way to keep four-legged friends healthy
A boom in organic pet food
The “Paw”ticulars of natural pet food. (Food Trends)
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