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One Last Plea

One last plea for donations to our pet food testing project. We’ve got a week to go.

One last plea for donations to our pet food testing project. We’ve got a week to go.

One of the biggest questions in pet food today, and undoubtedly would be the biggest horror of pet food ever revealed, is: are euthanized dogs and cats ground and rendered in pet foods? This worst possibility of pet food has gone unanswered for more than a decade by authorities, and was never given proper investigation in almost 20 years since the horror was first brought to the public’s attention.

The reality is, millions of euthanized pets (cats and dogs) are rendered – ground and cooked – and become animal feed ingredients. Most states do not allow euthanized animals to be dumped in a landfill; wild animals die when consuming the carcasses. Most animal shelters cannot afford a crematory. There is no other option. At tax payer expense, an area rendering company removes euthanized animals from shelters and their bodies are rendered.

September 27, 1995. Balitmore City Paper publishes ‘What’s Cookin’? Ever Wonder What Happens to Dead Animals?’ If you’ve never read this story, as difficult as it is to look at and think about, you should.

This journalist witnessed first hand animals including euthanized pets becoming pet food ingredients meat and bone meal and animal fat. The article includes some disturbing images as well.

2002. FDA investigates “The Risk of Pentobarbital in Dog Food”. FDA tested numerous dog food varieties (no cat foods were tested) and found many contained the euthanizing drug pentobarbital. FDA performed species source testing (to determine the species of the euthanized animal) but their testing was inconclusive. The FDA told the world no dog or cat DNA was found. But this is not exactly an accurate statement. FDA stated the only possible sources of pentobarbital in dog foods would be from euthanized dogs, cats, or horses. The agency admitted (in the fine print) they found no DNA of dogs, cats, or horses in their testing. In other words, their DNA testing was inconclusive; the actual source of the euthanizing drug was never found.

(FYI: In 2011, TruthaboutPetFood.com made connections with a DNA testing laboratory. This lab went to FDA scientists asking for the testing protocols used in their DNA investigation of pet foods containing pentobarbital. The FDA refused to provide their testing procedures.)

2004. In a report to Congress, the Congressional Research Services provided information on the rendering industry. This report told members of Congress a source of animals rendered is “animal shelters” and end products become “pet food”.

For those that think this couldn’t possibly happen in our pet foods, let me assure you it could very possibly happen. It could easily happen because FDA Compliance Policies allow it. Federal laws are supposed to prohibit any food – human food or pet food – to contain the remains of a euthanized animal. But, FDA doesn’t enforce all federal laws – especially those that pertain to animal foods. Click Here and/or Here to read FDA Compliance Policies.

All animals are being fed hideous wastes, regulatory authorities just look the other way.

How many of us have screamed and begged and pleaded with our politicians to force FDA to uphold the law with pet foods/animal foods? Our pleading has fell on deaf ears for decades.

Do you want to know one thing that will get their attention? Our testing. Our results.

We are not on a witch hunt, we are on a truth hunt. If pet foods contain the remains of a euthanized pet – we want the truth. If pet foods contain cancer causing preservatives – we want the truth. If pet foods contain toxic molds – we want the truth. We deserve the truth.

This testing is our truth.

Hopefully, we will do more testing in the future. But this is our first testing – an actual first in history. Nothing like this has ever been taken on before. Be part of the first – donate before the closing on June 6.

 

 

 

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Jo

    May 30, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    If this article doesn’t inspire everyone who reads it to donate SOMEthing, nothing will! Phenomenal article, Susan. And truly sickening.

  2. Holly

    May 30, 2014 at 12:34 pm

    I wish I had something to give to this cause, I am waiting for a decision from SSDI (3-6 mo wait w/no current income) and hopefully I’m approved and can begin donating to your causes. Thank you for doing what you do.

    • Susan Thixton

      May 30, 2014 at 12:44 pm

      Holly – don’t worry. You can help by sharing the link with others. This effort is team work.

  3. Linda Messina

    May 30, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    See that you’ve reached your goal but it’s never enough is it? I have shared this with a Dog group I belong to and I’m cotributing what I can. Thanks for all of your hard work Susan.

  4. Mike L

    May 31, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    I’m going to donate .. not much but I’ll do what I can. As an active fundraiser for local rescues, I know that even the smallest amount helps once it’s all added up if we all pitch in.

    I read the article with interest ..make that sadness and interest. It’s my first time reading this article though I’m not new to the controversy. A question or two:

    1 – Is there more to the article? It felt oddly incomplete. It doesn’t wrap up like most newspaper articles do. Well, that’s my feeling anyway.

    2 – Has there been followup to this article? Rendering plants arguing, denying, litigation, fines etc… as a result of this exact article? Anyone know?

    Just curious. Anywho, many thanks for your ongoing efforts,
    Mike L

    • Susan Thixton

      June 1, 2014 at 8:41 am

      Mike – There was somewhat of a follow up story to What’s Cookin. Here is another link: http://www2.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=3727
      There was another journalist that wrote about this horrific topic around the same time frame – I believe more in the central part of the U.S. And then basically this news went silent. No one but concerned pet owners talked about. Rendering facilities refused to talk to media again.

      • Mike L

        June 2, 2014 at 1:30 pm

        Greetings Ms. Thixton,

        Thanks very much for making the time to add a helpful reply to my query. I’ll add here that there is, for those interested, more to the original article at:
        http://www2.citypaper.com/about/vanstories/meltdown-2.pdf

        Perhaps you’ve already done this but do you think there might be some value in inviting the readers here to submit links and info regarding this topic? Relevant issues, events and changes (if any) since this story broke etc…

        Though my card is valid (I checked via phone) indiegogo won’t allow me to donate. They claim my card is not valid. ARG!

        Is there any rule stating that you can’t run another campaign after this one ends? Hope not.

        This is all very exciting and thanks for your ongoing efforts,
        Mike

  5. Fan Follower

    June 1, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    People, Followers, Readers, Pet Lovers, and Everyone else:

    We are only $375 away from a very fabulous & amazing milestone!

    Can you believe it. Can the PFI believe it. They will alright when testing results are published!

    Just 5 days left now so how about $75 each day until conclusion.

    Can we do it?

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Human Grade & Feed Grade
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Pet Food is regulated by federal and state authorities. Unfortunately, authorities ignore many safety laws. Click Here to learn more about the failures of the U.S. pet food regulatory system.

 

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Click Here for definitions of animal protein ingredients.

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