When an industry trade event talks about us, then followed by a industry publication calling us names – we consumers must be doing a lot right! Thanks industry for telling us we’re doing such a great job.
A wise man (Rodney Habib) taught me a lesson today. The Pet Feed industry is worried…worried that consumers are learning too much. So worried they can’t stop talking about us. And interestingly enough – they keep trying to convince each other pet feed is wonderful. As my wise friend explained – it’s snake oil salesmen trying to convince other snake oil salesmen how wonderful snake oil can be…that is, if they can just keep selling their snake oil.
First, we were discussed at “the global event for the pet food industry” – Pet Food Forum that was held in Kansas City two weeks ago (April 29 – May 1, 2018).
Right there in the middle of a lecture at Pet Food Forum was a screen shot image of TruthaboutPetFood.com with the headline “This is what we are up against!!” With a couple of quotes from TruthaboutPetFood.com posts including “What consumers are not told about pet food.”
And then just days later, a post was published in a pet food industry trade publication calling consumer advocates “fear mongers”. At first thought, the post seemed hateful…vindictive. But when you read between the carefully crafted lines from industry spokesperson Dr. Ryan Yamka – it’s crystal clear what he is selling his fellow ‘feeders’. He’s trying to convince them all is well in pet feed…nothing is happening out in consumer world…we’re not losing customers…really, we’re not.
My smart friend was right…they ARE worried about us…so worried they can’t stop talking about us. They are worried because all of the wonderful consumers out there keep spreading the word; no recycled garbage for our pets, no feed.
We got a clue things were going well for educated consumers from the Pet Food Forum, but Dr. Yamka really nailed the message to us. Consumers are driving forward big changes in the pet food industry. We’re making a significant difference.
Kudos to pet food consumers. Take a moment to revel on this milestone we’ve reached. Certainly there is more work ahead – but thanks to Pet Food Forum and Dr. Yamka, we now know we’re making a difference within the industry. That’s big!
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Mahatma Gandhi.
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
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The 2018 List
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Jill
May 10, 2018 at 10:26 am
I really needed this message today. On many levels. Especially the quote from Gandhi. Thank you.
Amy
May 10, 2018 at 10:44 am
That’s right!! Keep rocking it.
kb
May 10, 2018 at 1:04 pm
Let’s keep going! Susan, thank you so much for all you do!!
Dianne & Pets
May 10, 2018 at 1:57 pm
And yet, the really obvious simple thing to do, is clean up their act. It is almost like they don’t feel fulfilled unless they can manage to make money selling garbage and duping customers. They could just get into waste management and avoid consumers altogether.
Jeanette Owen
May 10, 2018 at 9:46 pm
good one!
Kathryn Smith
May 11, 2018 at 6:19 am
and benefit the ‘energy’ issue at the same time if they would invest in energy producing incinerators! There is NO room to bury the stuff — people would still have jobs, electricity would be shared with local factories/businesses and it would be a win-win solution to a nasty problem.
ian
May 10, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Good job Susan ! I love that someone took a picture of that screen and somehow you got it.
I really feel a significant victory right now would be forcing them to only put images on the packages of the actual ingredients— for example a picture of chicken meal instead of chicken breasts. If consumers see what is actually going into the food it would be a big step forward.
Darcy Flynn
May 10, 2018 at 5:31 pm
Susan – you are the best—tireless, enthusiastic and motivating –just what we need to drive the stake in the heart of pet feed producers (that sounds kind of gory but hey, they deserve it for what they are doing to unsuspecting animals) Don’t ever give up – we are all behind you!
Anthony Hepton.
May 10, 2018 at 8:40 pm
The one thing that the industry does not want discussed is the widespread use of products from the rendering industry, they want to call it “meat” instead of garbage that contains toxins and violates federal regulations, this is the financial heart of the pet food industry, until the pet food industry stops acting as the garbage dump for the meat industry, the problem will continue. The entire regulatory system, from the director on down, must accept responsibility for this travesty.
Pet Owner
May 11, 2018 at 12:19 am
Well said.
Batzion
May 11, 2018 at 5:00 am
“Wheels of justice grind slow but grind fine.” – Sun Tzu
Terri Christenson Janson
May 11, 2018 at 1:44 pm
I am smiling BIG!!!
Lisa Marie
May 11, 2018 at 2:18 pm
The genie is out of the bottle, the rabbit out of the hat, there’s no turning back, pet food, not feed, is the future.
Thanks for all you do Susan. 🙂
Virginia M Wheelis
May 15, 2018 at 12:09 am
Susan, the dogs and cats of this world thank you and so do i.