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To Assure We Have Great Pet Food Tomorrow…

…buy your pet food from local Independent Pet Food Stores today.

Buy your pet food from local Independent Pet Food Stores today.

If you walk into most chain pet food stores and ask a representative if ingredients in a particular pet food are human edible/human grade – you will probably get a deer in headlights look. The representative will likely try to assure you all the pet foods they carry use ‘quality ingredients’ – but they can’t explain to you what quality means. They might tell you ingredients come from USDA inspected facilities, neglecting to consider that condemned animal materials (that you don’t want in your pet’s food) also ‘come from‘ USDA inspected facilities.

But if you walk into your local independent pet food store and ask a representative the same question, chances are you will get a detailed, informed response about any food they carry.

Most independent pet food stores know every detail about the brands they sell. Many small pet food manufacturers visit these stores in person giving training sessions to store employees AND often provide educational/Q&A opportunities to customers of the store.

And even if the independent pet food store doesn’t know the answer, they will find answers for you. With the chain pet food store…that’s not likely to happen.

If your local store doesn’t carry the brand you want, chances are they can order it for you. You might have seen an interview online about a particular brand that you want to try, ask the store if they can order it for you. Small independent pet stores are MUCH more flexible with what they can carry or order than large chain stores.

Get on your local pet store’s email list. Pet stores are one of the first notified when a recall occurs. Most keep documentation of each purchase you make and can notify you immediately if you purchased the recalled pet food (often before TruthaboutPetFood.com posts a recall notice).

Large chain stores are beginning to carry some raw and cooked frozen foods, and a couple of human grade pet food brands.

BUT the smaller brands of pet foods that source humanely raised meats, organic ingredients, and use only human grade/human edible quality ingredients are NOT sold in most chain pet food stores.

Independent pet food stores are commonly the ONLY pet stores that will bring in small and new brands. In other words, without them – many human grade pet foods would be limited to online sales only and chances are they would not survive. If we don’t support these small businesses, we could lose opportunity for new brands to be developed in the future.

As well, when you purchase pet food, treats, toys, bedding from a local independently owned pet food store – you are supporting your own community.

Personal Note: I’ve known many independent pet food stores to close over the years. Each time I worry about the future of quality pet food without them. Right now in mid-US states, an independent pet store is VERY difficult to find. Many stores have closed in this part of the country.

Every pet owner can do their part to protect the future of quality pet food by making some/many/most of your pet food, treat, toys, and/or bedding purchases from local independently owned pet stores. (And PLEASE don’t be one of those people that goes into a local pet store, picks their brain about a pet food brand, and then buys the food from one of the big online retailers.)

By supporting local pet food stores, you are assuring we all have a future with high quality pet foods available to us.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food


Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.

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 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here


The 2023 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Sandy Thompson

    May 2, 2023 at 10:21 am

    Agree 100 percent! I wish I could find one! As pet owners we need to recognize that good quality food comes at a price. I feel like these stores fail because people don’t realize the cost of good food. I think it’s all about how we view our pets. I view mine as a family member. We are willing to provide our pet with the same level of diet and health care that I would provide my child. Often that is not the case unfortunately. I think that educating, which is what you offer, is key. I often share your articles with my fellow pet owners, in hopes that they too can keep their pet healthy and enjoy the animals company as long as they can.

  2. Angela

    May 2, 2023 at 11:02 am

    Our community saw many independent pet food stores sell to an investor. After 5 years, they declared bancruptcy. It’s great to support locally owned boutique pet food stores, but it’s also on the owners to want to remain in business. It’s must be pretty tempting to sell when an investor comes knocking on your door with wads of cash. Similarly, this is happening to our privately owned Veterinarian practices, too.

  3. Lynn Felici-Gallant

    May 2, 2023 at 12:35 pm

    Thank you for the shoutout and words of encouragement. We small businesses with dedicated teams but without deep pockets and/or multiple investors appreciate it.

    • Sarah

      May 14, 2023 at 2:41 am

      My family is the new owner of a existing independent pet store, and as much as we look forward to carrying on the mission of good food and bestowing our knowledge on others, we also hope that future generations of pet owners will continue the support for small businesses – and that’s not just limited to us, as it is support for our vendors as well to continue their independent, family-owned work towards better pet foods! Thank you Susan for the work you do and I hope more people will realize how important everything you’ve done is!
      Sarah
      Co-owner, Tailwaggers, Blue Bell, PA

  4. Hope Valenti

    May 2, 2023 at 1:41 pm

    Susan speaks the truth always. As a small independent pet supply owner we do so much for the community. We rescue animals no one else will take and find good homes. We sell the best foods as many people do not realize the differences in foods and that often you can spend the same amount on better food. We try and help educate customers who become our friends. WE THANK Susan for telling it like it is and highly respect her value to the pet food community.
    Hope Valenti
    Owner Amwell Pet Supply, Hillsborough NJ.

  5. Kyle

    May 4, 2023 at 11:51 am

    Thank you so much for the kind words for small business, Susan. It means the world to see your support. Our two little stores may be smaller than the competition, but it’s our product knowledge and love for our customers that help us stand above everyone else.

    • Sean

      May 16, 2023 at 9:06 pm

      thanks for your unwavering support of small guys!

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Human Grade & Feed Grade
Do you know what the differences are between Feed Grade and Human Grade pet food? Click Here.

 

The Regulations
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.

 

The Many Styles of Pet Food
An overview of the categories, styles, legal requirements and recall data of commercial pet food in the U.S. Click Here.

 

The Ingredients
Did you know that all pet food ingredients have a separate definition than the same ingredient in human food? Click Here.

Click Here for definitions of animal protein ingredients.

Click Here to calculate carbohydrate percentage in your pet’s food.

 

Sick Pet Caused by a Pet Food?

If your pet has become sick or has died you believe is linked to a pet food, it is important to report the issue to FDA and your State Department of Agriculture.

Save all pet food – do not return it for a refund.

If your pet required veterinary care, ask your veterinarian to report to FDA.

Click Here for FDA and State contacts.

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