Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Pet Treats Made in China

Several years ago, when there was the major pet food recall, it was due to a contaminent in foods made in China. That usually begs the question of why we are still buying food that is made in China, if there is the constant risk of contamination.  So when I came across a recent article regarding Pet Owners waging a campaign against Chinese Pet Food I wasn't surprised. 

Pet owners are waging a campaign against Chinese-made pet treats they believe to be deadly.

Phyllis Darnell said her schnauzer, Kara, spent a year in pain while eating Waggin’ Train treats.

Kara eventually died of pancreatitis and hepatitis.

Owners Keith Roloson and Linda Thomas said their dog Baby suffered periodic severe vomiting and lethargy. Each time, she'd eaten the same Waggin’ Train jerky treat. Their other dog, Coco, ate the treats too.

They are  part of a growing social media groundswell demanding a recall of Chinese chicken jerky dog treats. The primary brands being targeted are Waggin’ Train and Milo’s Kitchen.

An online petition has close to 70,000 signatures, and a Facebook page dedicated to the cause has more than 6,000 members.



Monday, November 5, 2012

Pet residents of White House focus of book

Good article from the associated press and just in time for election day.

President George H.W. Bush had a problem so important he sent a memo to White House staff asking them to take a pledge. His dog, Ranger, was packing on the pounds.


"WE AGREE NOT TO FEED RANGER. WE WILL NOT GIVE HIM BISCUITS. WE WILL NOT GIVE HIM FOOD OF ANY KIND," the pledge read.

Bush ends his memo saying, "I will, of course, report on Ranger's fight against obesity. Right now he looks like a blimp, a nice friendly appealing blimp, but a blimp."

That memo, along with countless anecdotes and more than 200 pictures are featured in Dallas author Jennifer Boswell Pickens' new book, "Pets at the White House," which gives readers a glimpse of what life is like at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for pets, and what those pets have meant to their famous owners.

Check out the article for more about the book.