Beware of Raw Foods for Your Dog

Despite the best efforts of public health agencies, some dog owners continue to believe that raw meats are safe and beneficial for their dogs.

Many people even believe the old wives tale that cooked foods are more difficult to digest than raw food. It’s true there is some structural change from the cooking process, but it works just as much in favor of digestibility, for example, by partially breaking down the protein structure.

As to feeding your dog raw meats which consist mainly of beef, chicken and lamb, your dog can get Salmonella or E. coli. and other food poisoning just as you can.

In June of this year, one major manufacturer of dog food treats - T.W. Enterprises Inc. of Ferndale, WA. and Aron Pet Food of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada - recalled a number of products due to Salmonella contamination.

There have recently been three human illnesses caused by Salmonella bacteria in Canada linked to natural pet treats. This is one of several incidents where natural pet treats have been linked to salmonellosis in humans over the past six years, including previous Salmonella outbreaks in 1999 and 2002.

In response, the Public Health Agency of Canada advised people who give their pets natural pet treats and/or raw food made from raw animal materials to wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap after handling these products.

Natural pet treats include various dried or smoked products with animal or seafood contents. Animal treats include ears, hooves and hearts from a number of species. Products may be sold prepackaged or in bulk. Some of these products may be a source of Salmonella bacteria that may increase the risk of Salmonella infection in humans.

In comparison to products like raw chicken meat, commercial dog foods are relatively safe because they are cooked at high temperatures from eight to 24 hours -- a process that kills any bacteria on the product.

Salmonellosis is an infection with Salmonella bacteria. Symptoms of salmonellosis are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.

In some people, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that hospitalization is required. Young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Studies completed by the Public Health Agency of Canada have confirmed that some of these products may be contaminated and have shown that dogs fed these products can shed Salmonella bacteria in their stool for days. A recent study from the United States also supports these findings.

See the news article and warning from the Canadian government at
http://www.news.gc.ca/cfmx/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=159639&

You’ll hear many people, especially on the Internet, singing the praises of raw food diets. Ask them for their educational credentials or for scientific evidence. Expect a stunned silence.

Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Public Health of Canada are warning consumers about using and serving raw meat products to their pets.

Here’s what the FDA says: "The FDA believes that feeding raw meat diets to pets is not consistent with its goal of protecting the public from significant health risks," says William Burkholder, D.V.M., Ph.D., the Food and Drug Administration's pet food specialist. In addition, he says, raw meat and bones do not have all the required nutrients that a pet, for example, a dog, needs on a daily basis.

Read the article at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/104_pets.html

Doesn’t it make more sense to listen to people who’ve actually know what they’re doing as compared with a stranger on the Internet? Avoid raw food diets for your pets!

P.S. Visit http://www.ToyBreeds.com next month for a new edition of the Bone-Mot™.

Has American Kennel Club Lost Its Way?

Has the AKC Lost Its Way?

For reasons many of us cannot understand, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is supporting enactment of the "Pet Animal Welfare Statute" (PAWS) which is a bill to amend the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

It would require federal licensing and inspection of the private homes of many hobby breeders. Until now no federal license has been required to breed cats and dogs in a private residence and sell retail to the public. PAWS will also have an impact on rescue organizations, requiring licensing of many of these as retail sellers.

The AWA standards are written for commercial establishments and not in-home facilities. Compliance with commercial regulations will be difficult if not impossible for rescue and small, private cat and dog hobby breeders.

Three years ago when the bill was first introduced in Congress as the Puppy Protection Act, the AKC stated correctly: “the so-called Puppy Protection Act is based on sensationalized conclusions rather than facts. It will involve the federal government in unworkable regulation of the breeding practices of individual breeders.”

The above is true of the 2005 version of the bill, PAWS. What is different this year is the AKC's support.

The organizations that are supporting this horrible piece of legislation are the Humane Society of the United States, PETA, the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL), and the American Kennel Club. In other words, three organizations that believe humans are not entitled to make pets of dogs and that have used lawsuits to harass those who breed animals support this legislation. And the AKC!

Among the groups that opposed PAWS are the United Kennel Club (UKC), the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) (the feline counterpart to AKC) and the National Animal Interest Alliance. Read the CFA's 10 Reasons Why PAWS Bill Should Be Killed.

Despite the support by the AKC’s national group, 42% of the AKC’s member groups oppose PAWS. Those include American Brussels Griffon Association, Papillon Club of America, Pug Dog Club of America, Yorkshire Terrier Club of America and American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club.

Four AKC directors voted against the motion to support the proposed legislation. One of those directors is Dr. Carmen Battaglia, has chosen to make his concerns with PAWS and the AKC's position public at http://saova.org/1139battaglia.html

His statement indicates the AKC's underlying rationale is flawed, the bill itself poorly written and dangerous and he urges its defeat.

I have no idea what possess the AKC to support this horrible piece of legislation. What it has said is 1) Sen. R. Santorum (R-PA who sponsored this legislation), HSUS and DDAL were going to pass AWA legislation, with, or without, its support and 2) no legislation is perfect!

The problem is that by collaborating with animal-rights groups and their lackey, Sen. Santorum, the AKC no longer has the ability to negotiate worthwhile changes in the bill because it’s one of the authors.

The attitude of their directors and paid legislative staff is "We're the American Kennel Club. We don't care. We don’t have to."

We all support reasonable laws that will protect dogs but this law is intended only to harass dog breeders.

If you want to preserve your right and your children’s right to have dogs as pets, notify the members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry which is considering this legislation: http://agriculture.senate.gov/sen.htm as well your own Representative and Senators.


P.S. Visit http://www.ToyBreeds.com next month for a new edition of the Bone-Mot™.

Has American Kennel Club Lost Its Way?

For reasons many of us cannot understand, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is supporting enactment of the "Pet Animal Welfare Statute" (PAWS) which is a bill to amend the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

It would require federal licensing and inspection of the private homes of many hobby breeders. Until now no federal license has been required to breed cats and dogs in a private residence and sell retail to the public. PAWS will also have an impact on rescue organizations, requiring licensing of many of these as retail sellers.

The AWA standards are written for commercial establishments and not in-home facilities. Compliance with commercial regulations will be difficult if not impossible for rescue and small, private cat and dog hobby breeders.

Three years ago when the bill was first introduced in Congress as the Puppy Protection Act, the AKC stated correctly: “the so-called Puppy Protection Act is based on sensationalized conclusions rather than facts. It will involve the federal government in unworkable regulation of the breeding practices of individual breeders.”

The above is true of the 2005 version of the bill, PAWS. What is different this year is the AKC's support.

The organizations that are supporting this horrible piece of legislation are the Humane Society of the United States, PETA, the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL), and the American Kennel Club. In other words, three organizations that believe humans are not entitled to make pets of dogs and that have used lawsuits to harass those who breed animals support this legislation. And the AKC!

Among the groups that opposed PAWS are the United Kennel Club (UKC), the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) (the feline counterpart to AKC) and the National Animal Interest Alliance. Read the CFA's 10 Reasons Why PAWS Bill Should Be Killed.

Despite the support by the AKC’s national group, 42% of the AKC’s member groups oppose PAWS. Those include American Brussels Griffon Association, Papillon Club of America, Pug Dog Club of America, Yorkshire Terrier Club of America and American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club.

Four AKC directors voted against the motion to support the proposed legislation. One of those directors is Dr. Carmen Battaglia, has chosen to make his concerns with PAWS and the AKC's position public at http://saova.org/1139battaglia.html

His statement indicates the AKC's underlying rationale is flawed, the bill itself poorly written and dangerous and he urges its defeat.

I have no idea what possess the AKC to support this horrible piece of legislation. What it has said is 1) Sen. R. Santorum (R-PA who sponsored this legislation), HSUS and DDAL were going to pass AWA legislation, with, or without, its support and 2) no legislation is perfect!

The problem is that by collaborating with animal-rights groups and their lackey, Sen. Santorum, the AKC no longer has the ability to negotiate worthwhile changes in the bill because it’s one of the authors.

The attitude of their directors and paid legislative staff is "We're the American Kennel Club. We don't care. We don’t have to."

We all support reasonable laws that will protect dogs but this law is intended only to harass dog breeders.

If you want to preserve your right and your children’s right to have dogs as pets, notify the members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry which is considering this legislation: http://agriculture.senate.gov/sen.htm as well your own Representative and Senators.


P.S. Visit http://www.ToyBreeds.com next month for a new edition of the Bone-Mot™.

Beware of Raw Foods for Your Dog

Despite the best efforts of public health agencies, some dog owners continue to believe that raw meats are safe and beneficial for their dogs.

Many people even believe the old wives tale that cooked foods are more difficult to digest than raw food. It’s true there is some structural change from the cooking process, but it works just as much in favor of digestibility, for example, by partially breaking down the protein structure.

As to feeding your dog raw meats which consist mainly of beef, chicken and lamb, your dog can get Salmonella or E. coli. and other food poisoning just as you can.

In June of this year, one major manufacturer of dog food treats - T.W. Enterprises Inc. of Ferndale, WA. and Aron Pet Food of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada - recalled a number of products due to Salmonella contamination.

There have recently been three human illnesses caused by Salmonella bacteria in Canada linked to natural pet treats. This is one of several incidents where natural pet treats have been linked to salmonellosis in humans over the past six years, including previous Salmonella outbreaks in 1999 and 2002.

In response, the Public Health Agency of Canada advised people who give their pets natural pet treats and/or raw food made from raw animal materials to wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap after handling these products.

Natural pet treats include various dried or smoked products with animal or seafood contents. Animal treats include ears, hooves and hearts from a number of species. Products may be sold prepackaged or in bulk. Some of these products may be a source of Salmonella bacteria that may increase the risk of Salmonella infection in humans.

In comparison to products like raw chicken meat, commercial dog foods are relatively safe because they are cooked at high temperatures from eight to 24 hours -- a process that kills any bacteria on the product.

Salmonellosis is an infection with Salmonella bacteria. Symptoms of salmonellosis are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.

In some people, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that hospitalization is required. Young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Studies completed by the Public Health Agency of Canada have confirmed that some of these products may be contaminated and have shown that dogs fed these products can shed Salmonella bacteria in their stool for days. A recent study from the United States also supports these findings.

See the news article and warning from the Canadian government at
http://www.news.gc.ca/cfmx/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=159639&

You’ll hear many people, especially on the Internet, singing the praises of raw food diets. Ask them for their educational credentials or for scientific evidence. Expect a stunned silence.

Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Public Health of Canada are warning consumers about using and serving raw meat products to their pets.

Here’s what the FDA says: "The FDA believes that feeding raw meat diets to pets is not consistent with its goal of protecting the public from significant health risks," says William Burkholder, D.V.M., Ph.D., the Food and Drug Administration's pet food specialist. In addition, he says, raw meat and bones do not have all the required nutrients that a pet, for example, a dog, needs on a daily basis.

Read the article at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/104_pets.html

Doesn’t it make more sense to listen to people who’ve actually know what they’re doing as compared with a stranger on the Internet? Avoid raw food diets for your pets!

P.S. Visit http://www.ToyBreeds.com next month for a new edition of the Bone-Mot™.