blog

Green Pet Toys

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:52:10 +0100

By Carol Frischmann, author, Pets and the Planet: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Pet Care

Bette Hanson and co-pilot Sascha share my commitment to purchasing “green” whenever we can. Properly selected toys can provide exercise, stimulate the mind, and provide plain old fun.

Toys made of recycled materials can be very good, and some endure the punishment our committed chewers give them. If you have a pet that destroys toys, be sure to find the extra heavy-duty toys. Toys that my pets use and abuse come from quality manufacturers such as Kong, Planet Dog, SmartyKat, and Pooch Planet. Manufacturers constantly introduce new products, so keep checking your neighborhood planet-friendly pet store.

Excessively cheap toys, whether manufactured in the United States or overseas, reflect poor raw materials and manufacturing quality, and usually poor worker conditions with lax regulations about process and raw material safety. The consistent discovery of toxic materials in children’s toys manufactured in China also pertains to pet toys. Toxic materials which pose problems for children become more toxic in the smaller bodies of pets. Besides poisoning your pet, your pet may eat these toy parts, causing blockages that will require surgery. Finally, inexpensive toys made of non-recyclable materials become part of our municipal solid waste.

Everyone knows the best toy for your pet is you. Use green toys during play with your pet. Green toys make playtime safer and better for the planet.

The #1 Environmental Problem Concerning Pets

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:17:37 +0100

By Carol Frischmann, author, Pets and the Planet: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Pet Care

Bette Hanson and co-pilot Sascha share my concern about the #1 environmental problem concerning pets. That problem is pets losing their original homes.

In any economy, millions of pets lose their homes each year, but with the sagging economy driving foreclosures, families often need to find someone else to care for their pets; county shelters try to fill that role. Did you know that much of the funding for caring for animals that must be given up comes from the licensing of pets?

If you have an unlicensed pet, please take that step. Many county organizations make licensing easy with online registration systems. If you want a new pet, consider a shelter pet, and be sure your new friend is neutered or spayed. If you want to spend time with animals, but can’t commit to a pet, volunteer at a shelter.

Life sometimes dictates that a well-loved pet must be rehomed. That’s what shelters do. Yet, if you spend time at shelters, you’ll realize that it’s not just people forced to move and give up their pets. The flow of unwanted pets is constant, and our cities and counties devote an enormous amount of resources to collecting and housing these animals. That’s a huge environmental problem, and one that seems preventable.

Organic vs. Natural: What’s the Difference?

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:32:52 +0100

By Carol Frischmann, author, Pets and the Planet: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Pet Care

Bette Hanson and co-pilot Sascha are fans of using organic foods when possible, as I am. The terms “natural” and “organic” confuse people. Here’s the difference:

“Natural” foods are not “organic.” When manufacturers do not use the word “organic,” it’s because they can’t. If even 70 percent of the ingredients are organic the label will say so because the marketplace commands a higher price for organic products.

Organic foods are those produced under specific conditions that prohibit the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Those are the chemicals that not only can create problems if you ingest them, but also run off with rainwater into the water supplies, contaminating them. Because manual labor replaces the job of chemicals, organic foods are more costly to produce.

“Natural” foods do not contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives that are nutritionless and sometimes mask a lower-quality product. Usually, the quality of the ingredients in natural products is very good. The hitch is that they aren’t produced by organic methods.

When you use high quality ingredients, free of contaminants and additives, your dogs have fewer problems with allergies, skin conditions, and will produce less feces. You’ll also know that you’re doing the best you can to promote a healthy pet and a healthy, happy planet.

Is Selling Up Selling Out?

Wed, 12 May 2010 23:31:49 +0100

On May 5, Proctor & Gamble announced that it was purchasing Natura Pet Products, an independently run, family owned business with premium pet food brands including Innova, Evo, California Naturals as well as Karma and Mother Nature.

The reaction was immediate from long time supporter, and NPE co-founder, Lindsay Condefer, owner of premium retailer, Chic Petique when she pulled their product from the shelf. Animal trainer and animal advocate, Michelle Frumento was equally concerned and proactively responsive posting this on our FB fanpage: "I just called and spoke to someone at Natura. She said that if we want to make a difference, we need to flood them with emails and phone calls.They are listening.Email is: custserv@naturapet.com, Phone is...: (800) 532-7261". Artist Lois Turpin also voiced her frustration at P&G's history of animal testing and rumors of animal cruelty in the production of other brand affiliates such as Iams and Eukanuba. She is also concerned that mass-marketing the product will reduce the quality of content production; "Corporations care about the almighty dollar, therefore ingredients degrade after most buyouts as profit is the bottom line, Turpin adds.

What Lindsay, Michelle and may other pet owners are concerned about is that the formula will change and that changes will not be quickly or honestly communicated to consumers. Natura brand products have a history of

A Facebook group, Just Say No to Natura Pet Products Selling Out, has been started in response to the news of the buyout. The facilitator of this site posted this response from a Natura representative: Natura... See More’s dedication to quality and nutritional philosophy has not changed. Natura’s Founders; John & Ann Rademakers and Peter Atkins, started Natura’s’ business with the purpose to provide the healthiest pet foods in the world. In building Natura’s business they have maintained animal health and wellness as a priority. They have strongly supported their independent retail partners.

Please take a moment to reflect and think about the fact that they would not entrust their legacy to a new owner if they were not convinced that P &G would carry out their product philosophies and quality. P&G is committed to growing the Natura brands and they recognize the critical nature of growing the Brands through the independent pet specialty stores.

We will continue to celebrate and advance Natura's legacy and nutritional philosophy and maintain Natura's current high standards for product and ingredient quality, food safety and manufacturing excellence. We will continue to support the development of a thriving independent pet specialty channel.

I’ll leave you with a parting thought…

Did you know P&G is working with the FDA and respected animal welfare groups, to work on reforming regulations and validating alternative methods to support this?

To learn more about these efforts and other facts, please visit…

http://www.pg.com/animalalternatives/

www.IamsTruth.com

www.aspca.org/iams Viewpoint of an independent animal welfare organization

http://www.biorap.org Biological Research for Animals & People

http://altweb.jhsph.edu/ Alternatives to Animal testing site

http://www.hsus.org Humane Society of the United States

http://www.ampef.org/ Americans for Medical Progress Educational Foundation

Thank you once again for confiding in us. We sincerely appreciate your history of support and hope that you will continue to trust our brands and our people. We especially thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

Your Friend,

Lisa - Natura Pet Products, Technical Services
-------------------------------------------------------------

In my opinion, P&G's record in animal welfare is only an image boosting gesture and does not reassure me in any way that they will maintain quality control once they take over Natura Pet Products line of premium brand pet foods. Time will tell and rest assured that attention will be focused on quality, content, continuity and integrity. Your customers care!

Spiritually, Pets Help us Stay in the Present

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:48:03 +0100

I'm guilty.

I love my dog, and am big enough to admit that I can sometimes take her for granted.

She notices.

In subtle and often very direct ways, she helps me return to the present. I'll get overly engrossed in a task and am suddenly startled to reality by a sharp bark that seems to say, "Hey, did you forget about the outdoors and fresh air." "Let's go for a rejuvenating walk!" Or I'll wake up to a few animal toys strewn across the bedroom floor or on the bed, seemingly reminding me that there is always time for play! Theirs nothing like stepping on a high-pitched squeaky toy to induce a surprising chuckle early in the morning.

Over the years I've found that animals can be some of our most powerful and simple spiritual teachers. They can provide great lessons on love, loyalty, compassion and benefit our health.

It's scientifically proven that pets are therapeutic and reduce stress simply through touch and presence. According to various studies compiled by the Delta Society, a national animal assisted therapy organization, pets are proven to help reduce blood pressure, anxiety and behaviors of children up through seniors.

No devoted animal owner needs a study to prove the heartfelt swells generated by the thumping of a tail, arch backed curl around the leg or doe-eyed-soul-filled look received from their animal companions.

We all know of great and wise people whom walk the earth with service, love, and charity. We observe their kindness and wisdom, and that inspires us to want to be more like them, because we see something in them that we have not yet attained in our lives.

The Universe sends us such great men, women, prophets, and masters to inspire, evolve and encourage growth. Thus it is with our animals. They share a life with us, and a perhaps even a little bit of us rubs off on them encouraging each other to grow and move along in our journey's.

I remember Duncan, a spirited young Weimaraner who started out as a rescue dog, struggled through a case of heart worms in the loving embrace of a foster home and touched the lives of everyone he met on his journey from Alabama to Arizona where he now resides as a therapy dog.

Who doesn't get misty over the decades old video of Christian, a full-grown lion joyously embracing two young men like an affectionate house cat in the middle of the African bush?

And one of the most amazing and touching stories that I've ever encountered, was the bond between Bubba, a 275 lb 8 1/2 foot alligator and Jim Nesci, a reptile educator from Chicago. Bubba visited schools, events and even hospitals for the make-a-wish foundation. He responded to Jim's commands, was gentle beyond words and carried little kids on his back. He undoubtedly changed perceptions about reptiles and helped redefine the term pet.

I believe that all animals are very special beings and when given an opportunity and a platform, they are able to enhance our well being and build bonds through sharing a deep, rich and rewarding spiritual life.

What is your story?

Growing Body of Evidence

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:48:27 +0100

Animal science and behavior just added another 'Aha!' moment to what dog owners around the world already knew.

According to an article on news.discovery.com; "a study, accepted for publication in the journal Animal Behavior, presents the first experimental indication that domestic dogs rely on context-dependent signals when they growl at each other."

To some degree any pet owner who has heard their dog's low grumble at hearing an unfamiliar noise understands the difference in context between the menacing "Get away from my bone" snarl, and the gripping and playful "Toy. More Toy. Throw Toy. Please?" often accompanied by the cock of the head.

Indeed, my dog Sascha has several distinctive growls. She's particularly convincing with her insistent "Time to go for a walk. Now" rumble. Then there's the higher-pitched gnarly-yips when she tackles, grips and catches her prey in the form of a weathered, leather soccer ball. Or the low pitched, playful moans when anyone scratches her backside accompanying her trademark move; the shoulder-drop-happy-butt-dance, designed to make every human smile who witnesses the playful scene. My favorite? The pleasurably loud moaning grunts she makes when mussing up my couch/bed/comfy chair in an instinctual attempt to nest. That noise will forever be delightfully embedded in my brain, long after she leaves this earth. Sigh.

What we as owners witness with our pets behavior can best be described as more ethological than empirical. Ethology is the scientific and objective study of animal behavior. Behaviorism and ethology are two different ways of studying animals; one is largely confined to the laboratory and the other is based on field studies.

The discerning pet owner who reads Whole Dog Journal is familiar with trainer Pat Miller's behavioral insights: "bored dogs are far more likely to engage in behaviors that...are not the sort of things that will please you." Pat always amazes and impresses me with her common-sense ethological analysis of animal behaviors and her positive reinforcement training methods, which help create animal/human bonds.

The study concludes that the findings add to the "growing body of evidence that animal calls are far more complex than previously thought." Growing body of evidence, huh. Hmmmmmm. Not to me. But hey, they didn't ask me.

Raw Supplier Pet Food Recall

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:52:37 +0100

Nature's Variety is doing a voluntary recall of of Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats. If you have this product, look for the "Best If Used By" dates of 10/29/10 and 11/9/10 and also the "Best If Used By" date of 2/5/11 or sooner.

They are recalling the products because they may be contaminated with the bacteria Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products.

The recall includes the following products with a "Best If Used By" date of 10/29/10 or 11/9/10:

- UPC#7 69949 60131 9 – Chicken Formula 0.75 lb trial sized medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60130 2 – Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60120 3 – Chicken Formula 6 lb patties
- UPC#7 69949 60121 0 – Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs

Products Chicken Formula or Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet with a "Best If Used By" date on or before 2/5/11, include:

- UPC#7 69949 60131 9 – Chicken Formula 0.75 lb trial sized medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60130 2 – Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60120 3 – Chicken Formula 6 lb patties
- UPC#7 69949 60121 0 – Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs
- UPC#7 69949 50121 3 – Chicken Formula 12 lb case of chubs
- UPC#7 69949 60137 1 – Organic Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
- UPC#7 69949 60127 2 – Organic Chicken Formula 6 lb patties

From the Nature's Variety website: Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, or vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever, or abdominal pain. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products and is experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Nature's Variety now uses high pressure pasteurization on their raw frozen diets as a unique process to kill pathogenic bacteria through high-pressure, water-based technology. Having incorporated this state-of-the-art technology on a portion of their raw product offerings in late 2009, Nature's Variety was able to confidently implement the process universally on all raw frozen diets after the 2/11/10 recall in order to enhance food safety. For more info on the products and what Nature's Variety is doing to reassure customers, please visit: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm203612.htm or their website: www.naturesvariety.com/news/33

In my opinion, Nature's Variety is a quality company providing much needed healthy choices for our pets. I am disappointed that this happened, but happy to see that quality control measures were taken to ensure that this never happens again.

Eating Animals - book & bleccchhhh!

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:57:23 +0100

I just saw the author of Eating Animals, Jonathon Safran Foer, on the Ellen DeGeneris talk show. As a quasi-vegetarian, I was moved and could relate to Jonathon's personal story of an oscillating meat and vegetarian diet and how it changed after his revealing and eye-opening quest for knowledge. It reminds me of the revelations I came across when I first started my journey into the pet food industry.

On the website www.eatinganimals.com, Foer shares more of his journey breaking down myths, discerning fact from fiction and uncovering the reality that more than 99 percent of animal products are produced under factory farm conditions - a heartbreaking thought for anyone who loves animals, and the single worst thing that humans do to the environment, according to the author.

The website promoting the book says it "explores the many stories we use to justify our eating habits—folklore and pop culture, family traditions and national myth, apparent facts and inherent fictions—and how such tales can lull us into a brutal forgetting."

Also on www.eatinganimals.com, check out his RESOURCES page with 10 tips to help you create a more livable world for people & animals! Here's just one tip: Buy products from the most progressive farmers in America. Sustainable Table's Eat Well Guide provides an extensive list of small farmers. We also encourage you to support Frank Reese, whose Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch is featured in Eating Animals.

I'm putting it on my MUST READ list. How about you?