Meet the Meat in Your Pet's Food

I am not a fan of sensationalism. I don't like to use graphic images or shocking stories to encourage people into action. But sometimes, there is just simply no other way to tell the truth. And this is one of those times. If you are offended, disgusted, or otherwise outraged by what I write in the next few paragraphs - you should be!  

Dogs and cats need meat to thrive. That is just a fact. In fact, cats really don't need any grains at all, while dogs can derive some nutritional benefits from grains. But all of our 4-legged family members must have sources of meat to thrive, be healthy and live long lives with us.

So, where does the meat in your pet's food come from? A recent petition on Facebook has been circulating that asks Purina to stop including euthanized pets in many of their foods.

WHAT? I can hear you now. That can't be true, or legal, right?

It is true, and legal. And Purina is not the only company that does it. A 2008 publication from the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which controls pet food production, admitted that rendering euthanized pets into pet food is common. The same report explained that "meat" can come from virtually any mammal, including (but not limited to):  

- Road kill

- Euthanized cats and dogs

- Dying, diseased or disabled farm animals

- Dead zoo animals

Even worse than "meat" or "meat and bone meal" are "meat by-products." This ingredient is basically what's left on the floor of slaughterhouses (often rotting for days in containers before it's actually processed), the non-meat parts of the "meat" listed above, or other inedible animal parts, like feathers or hooves.

Horrified yet? If you are, what can you do?

Step 1: Do some research. Confirm for yourself that what I am telling you is true. Here are two good starting points:

How to Avoid Choosing Dog Food with Inferior Meat Content

Horror Story... what's really in your dog's food  

Step 2: Read the ingredients on the food you are currently feeding your dog or cat. What "meat" is listed? Look for named protein (like chicken, beef, etc.). If you see the words "meat," "animal," or "by-products," go back to step 1 and decide if that's really what you want to feed your pet. If not, bring what's left of the food to AARF Pet Central and we'll give you 15% any new food you want to try! Not close to us in Stone Mountain? Just let us know and we'll recommend some other great places to find quality pet food and we can recommend some foods based on your pet's diet needs and your budget. 

Step 3: Consider making a donation of a quality food to a rescue or shelter. If ever a dog or cat needed a good food, it's in a shelter or foster home, trying to get healthy and ready for a new home. Too often, the food that is donated for homeless pets is full of meat by-products, corn, artificial colors and other harmful, unhealthy ingredients. Until the end of 2011, we'll have a collection bin at AARF Pet Central where you can donate dog and cat food. We'll use it for the AARF pets, and distribute it to other shelters and rescue programs in the area that can use it. We'll give you 15 percent off of any food you want to buy for the collection bin, too!