It IS official. We – concerned pet food consumers – have our official association. Here’s just some of the reasons why we need your membership in Association for Truth in Pet Food…
1. In the pet food industry, regulatory authorities often reach out to “stakeholder groups”. Consumers are the largest pet food stakeholder, however we are not recognized by FDA or AAFCO (or any other regulatory group) as an industry stakeholder because we have not had an official membership organization. Past AAFCO President Chad Linton explained to me (at the recent AAFCO meetings – and I thank him for this), AAFCO considers TruthaboutPetFood.com a blog. He shared that members of AAFCO cannot allow bloggers to participate as committee advisors. What they do allow is a representative of an organization – a stakeholder group. With our association we will be (should be) provided with a position as advisor on every pet food related AAFCO committee (which is denied currently). The lobby group for Big Pet Food is allowed several positions as advisors to AAFCO committees – and so does ingredient supplier associations such as National Renderers Association and National Grain and Feed Association. Pet food consumers need equal representation as AAFCO committee advisors.
2. One of the most significant tasks our Association will take on is testing of pet foods; both random pet food testing and testing of pet foods that are receiving numerous complaints of sick/dying pets. Dues from our membership organization will cover the costs of purchasing and testing of pet foods. This is a very expensive thing to do, thus we need many, many members to make a dent into what needs to be tested. By becoming a member, you are helping to police the pet food industry and perhaps save lives.
Any positive test results (to illegal ingredients or illegal levels of ingredients such as vitamins and minerals) will be turned over to FDA and State Department of Agriculture in hopes the product(s) will be recalled/removed from store shelves. As well, all of our test results will become public information posted on TruthaboutPetFood.com and PoisonedPets.com.
Behind the scenes, we are already compiling a list of expert contacts to help us determine what to test pet foods for. With a pet food that is receiving numerous pet food complaints, we will send our team of experts a list of symptoms suffered by pets along with the ingredient listing of the suspect pet food/treat. Our experts can then suggest what to test for – what contaminants or toxins (such as excess vitamins/minerals) could cause such symptoms. This helps us save money on testing expenses and hopefully will help us find the issue with the pet food quickly.
3. If we achieve significant membership, it is the goal of our Association to host pet food educational events each year. There is so much to learn and share about quality pet foods and treats, our associations will actively work towards furthering the education to all pet food consumers.
Any consumer or pet professional is welcome (and encouraged) to join the association. Membership is $10.00 annually. But…we’ll give you options for your membership.
Our new association will be managed by…
Susan Thixton
Advocate
Mollie Morrissette
Advocate
Depending on funds received in membership, in the near future we would like to add additional working advocates to our Association. The Pet Food Institute and other industry associations have 4 to 6 representatives at AAFCO meetings. We need numerous representatives as well. The only way we can do this is through the membership support of many, many pet food consumers.
Please join. Further, please make an effort to get others to join. Send at least five of your pet food consumer friends a link to the membership page, post it on Facebook and/or Google+, Tweet it (a lot!). We will be a self supported advocacy association that will work to make pet food regulations consumer friendly, educate unknowing pet food consumers, and help to ‘out’ illegal pet food products. Please join today!
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com
2013 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here
Have you read Buyer Beware? Click Here
Cooking for pets made easy, Dinner PAWsible
Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here
Jessica
February 8, 2013 at 1:41 pm
I’m in and sharing everywhere! Great work ladies and THANK YOU for all you do for our animal friends.
Lynn
February 12, 2013 at 9:00 am
I’m in too. Thanks to everybody for joining and doing their part to help Susan and her crew.
Nicole
February 8, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Awesome! Shared with a pet sitting group I am in on facebook.
Wendy
February 8, 2013 at 1:53 pm
is there an address to send a check to for those of us who do not do credit cards on internet?
Nicole
February 8, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Question: what about treats from America? Natural Balance for example? Someone is trying to tell me on my page and I’m not sure if these are sickening dogs?
Karen
February 8, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Awesome. Count us in, will be sharing this information with our Great Dane Meet Up Group and our online support group for the breed.
Keep up the great work.
Karen
Julie
February 8, 2013 at 2:09 pm
I joined
Pacific Sun
February 8, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Happy to have joined! Thank you!!
ValerieNoyes
February 8, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Have just joined! Thank you Susan, this couldn’t be more important!!
Linda M
February 8, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Susan,
I am very thankful for what you do. I would like to join and support, like Helen I do not use the internet for shopping or any type of financial tranaction. I would love an address to mail you a money order or check. Please let me know.
maria segreto
February 8, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Just joined and will share on all my social media !
Roadrogue
February 8, 2013 at 2:46 pm
I’m in, too, and thanks for all of your efforts, Susan. Looks like I might be the first male. Hopefully not the last.
Dr. Laurie Coger
February 8, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Count me in!
Nance
February 8, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Count me in too. I just joined and shared on FB.
Lynne Fowler
February 8, 2013 at 4:50 pm
You know you can count me in. And THANK YOU for ALL you do! Joined and Sharing.
Gayla
February 8, 2013 at 5:45 pm
I’m in too!
As far as the question about Natural Balance listed above, I don’t trust anything that bears the name Natural Balance. I saw too many critters die from being fed some of their product in 2007, and then they had another recall in early 2009, of different product. “Burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice, shame on me.” I prefer they don’t get a second (or in this case, third) chance. At least not when it comes to our pets’ health.
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joan
February 8, 2013 at 9:16 pm
I joined! But I think it was from my other email. I may join from this one too!
Linda Pruitt
February 8, 2013 at 9:17 pm
I am in, great idea. I do not want to use Paypal, can I mail a check?
If so, where do I mail it to, and who do I make the check out to.
Linda
m jones
February 10, 2013 at 11:13 pm
I would also like this information ….thanks.
PAUX
February 12, 2013 at 5:33 am
I would like an address also, I don’t use the net for financial trasactions.
I also agree with a couple of the comments, natural balance is just a name that they put a lot of money into making it sound good and clean on the internet but it is garbage. Home cooking and raw to protect our creatures.
Megany
February 8, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Once again, thank you for all that you so, Susan. I joined & will share with every petlover I know. THANK YOU!
Carolyn
February 9, 2013 at 9:30 am
We’re joining and sharing.. but we’d love a badge we can display on our site linking back to you!
Susan Thixton
February 9, 2013 at 10:00 am
We will have that soon Carolyn. Stay tuned!
Carolyn
February 9, 2013 at 12:56 pm
thanks!
Reader
February 9, 2013 at 9:30 pm
What about a lapel pin or a bumper sticker to encourage spreading this membership, and all the good work TAPF does? If the members donated enough money of course, to cover the costs??
Carol
February 10, 2013 at 7:50 am
So happy to see this!! I’ll be joining, and I’m going to try and talk my hubby into joining too. Tweeted and shared on my advocacy page.
Lorin Grow
February 10, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Liked, joined, shared and promoted on our Furry Face FB page!
m jones
February 10, 2013 at 11:18 pm
I would also like to know if Canadian pet food manufacturers will be included in the tests?
Brenda
February 12, 2013 at 10:45 am
Joined and shared. God bless you Susan thank you for all you do.
Woofielover
February 12, 2013 at 11:00 am
Natural Balance is NOT a good line of products. Like many other pet lines, it may have started out well but it’s only riding on that past reputation and mass marketing now. Any – ANY – products made by Diamond manufacturing should cause you to run the other way! Products manufactured by Diamond – whether owned by Diamond or just 3rd party co-packed by Diamond – are ticking time bombs in the recall waiting game.
AmeeR
February 14, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Ooo! BUMPER STICKER! Great idea!! Now I want one, lol 😉
Lynn
February 19, 2013 at 10:16 am
I hope it is ok to post this here. This weekend I pick up two miniature Dachshunds to foster through a Doxie rescue. The sent along a big bag of dog food for them. It is Royal Canin Mobility Support Veterinarian Diet. The ingredients are terrible. I called my contact to see if these dogs were on this because of illness she said no that they put all the dogs on this. I know this brand is considered to be premium and the price shows it. I am new to this rescue and don’t want to alienate them right off the bat. I she did offer to get it for my own use at a good price and I said no thanks I feed Honest Kitchen. SHe said she had heard of that. So any suggestions? I am sure they will recommend Royal Canin to the adopters. They are pretty proud it is what they use. Lynn
Susan Thixton
February 19, 2013 at 10:25 am
Perhaps you can suggest to the group to use a pet food that has provided consumers full transparency to ingredient quality and ingredient origins. That full transparency is The Pledge to Quality and Origin. http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/pledge-to-quality-and-origin And Honest Kitchen was one of the very first to step forward and provide their Pledge (I didn’t even have to ask them!)
Lynn
February 19, 2013 at 10:39 am
This is of course the thing to do. I am just cautious of offending since this is my first foster with them and I don’t want to come across as a know it all. Through they were very please with my application and credentials. Thanks
Susan Thixton
February 19, 2013 at 10:42 am
Baby steps.
Lynn
February 19, 2013 at 10:55 am
Indeed. Thanks Susan
maria segreto
February 19, 2013 at 10:55 am
and who knows they might appreciate the fact that you know something better 🙂
Maria
Lynn
February 19, 2013 at 11:50 am
Thanks Maria. Perhaps when they get to know me a bit more. I know they are committed to help this breed. Right now they are overwhelmed with dogs like many rescues. If any of you have ever considered fostering, I am sure the rescue for your breed can use you right now. I wonder if Honest Kitchen has a program for rescue groups. I will definitely check that out. These two here were standing on their rear legs air scenting when I was mixing up a batch this morning 😉
Karla
June 3, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Lynn – Honest Kitchen does offer a 30% discount to shelters and rescue groups when purchased through their online store. Here’s the link: http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/resources-and-programs/rescue-support. Maybe they would be willing to try it for a specific dog with special health needs (such as one who arrives at their rescue in particularly poor condition), and that would introduce them to what a great food it is!
Lynn
June 3, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Thanks Karla. I will look into it.
trish
February 23, 2013 at 12:25 am
I’d be interested i n some sort of logo or icon that members could proudly display (website or store for instance) just a thought 🙂
Johanna
February 28, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Super excited about this! I joined, but how about selling some ATPF swag? I would love to buy something, even just a keychain, or bumper sticker as others have suggested… would be a great conversation starter and a great way to spread the word!
Carol
March 4, 2013 at 10:26 am
After being unemployed for nearly 2 years, I came into a little money. Joined this morning. Wish I could have contributed more, but need to stretch it and make it last as long as possible. I continue to share this post on a weekly basis on my Facebook advocacy page.
Would love a bumper sticker once there’s an official website to put on it (gotta let people know where to go to find out more).
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Tracy Wells
November 2, 2013 at 7:56 am
I wanted to know what to do about possible pet treats that might be poison. Our Dog Jessie was fine on Monday Oct.28 she was ten years old we opened a box of Ol Roy dog treats Monday and she was dead Wed. night under the vets care. She had dark stool Tues. and started vomiting blood on Wed. morning I rushed her to the vet were she died that evening. The vet said there were symptoms of poison and we don’t let her run free. So I am trying to figure it out. I went to the Ol Roy web site and there was a link 285 customer complaints I was horrified dog after Dog has died with the same symptoms after consuming there products but there is no recall. How can I find out I filed a report with the Ol Roy company they said they would get back with me. Please reply I don’t want any other dog to die if there is something wrong with there treats.
Susan Thixton
November 2, 2013 at 8:33 am
You can report this to FDA – here is a page to give you information: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm182403.htm
You can also report to your State Department of Agriculture. Ask to speak to the pet food investigator.
Keep all packages. And…if you have not buried or cremated your dog yet – please have your vet hold her body.
Tracy Wells
November 2, 2013 at 8:44 am
I have the package and the receipt however she is buried in our back yard we did not know about the treats till after she was buried. I will report it thank you so much.
Pacific Sun
November 2, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Tracy, I am so sorry for your loss! These stories are the worst of the worst (heart wrenching) that come the way of this site. But thank you, in the midst of your deep grief, for taking time to warn other pet owners! Ol Roy has a very, very bad reputation among more experienced pet food buyers. But most would only have learned so from being a follower of TAPF and understanding the explanation of ingredients. It’s true that some dogs may already have a predisposition or systemic weakness making them more suseptible to the damaging effects of pet food. But this is no excuse for poor manufacturing, quality control and lack of safety issues plaguing these cheap PF producers and distributors! .. I don’t know how well petitions work but I see one was started and you may access it here: http://www.change.org/petitions/walmart-recall-ol-roy-dog-and-cat-food-pet-owners-boycott-this-product
No other dog should EVER have to suffer this fate! And I don’t know how producers and sellers can ever live with their conscience when yet another pet dies from PF.
Pacific Sun
November 2, 2013 at 10:01 pm
To any Readers who are wondering about switching from “economy” brand food, because of these alarming warnings, please heed the sad experiences of others! For every story we read, there are more who never even know why their pet has been affected.
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If you are looking for a peace of mind PF either try whole food home cooking, or a company which provides whole food meal servings (like Fresh Fetch)and a brand that has returned the Pledge to Quality and Origin (like Nature’s Logic).
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People “assume” these high quality brands are “too expensive” but the nutritional value received is so well worth it! NL is only about $37 for 16 oz (free shipping over $75). And Fresh Fetch saves time and effort by providing the kind of home cooking meal that “you” would if you could! (Smile).
I don’t not work for any pet food company or suppier but certainly believe in these trusted companies and and their owners!!