One More Time: Nothing Sourced From China!!!!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This a.m. on FB, I happened to see this list posted by a member of a group of dog owners for whom it is apparently a revelation that any type of pet food and treats using ingredients from China are dangerous for our companion animals. The woman has started a petition after supposedly losing a dog recently to Authority brand treats.

This information has been out there in the media for 8 years. It saddens me that there are still pet owners who aren't aware of it. 

(This discussion is really not meant for seasoned Food Groupies. You already know this stuff. But there may be newbies who don't or you may have friends & neighbors who would benefit from this info. Please feel free to share it. Nobody has to be a member of TFG or even DK to see the information here. Send a link to anyone you think might need it.)

I hope with all my heart that if there is a single thing anyone has learned in this group, it is that above anything else, you absolutely must check the sourcing of any edible product you give your pets. It is not enough that a product says "Made in USA" or has a North American address on the packaging. The ingredients might still come from China or other third world countries. 

I am also going to go out on a limb here and say that one way to avoid giving your dogs something that might kill or sicken them is to accept the fact that you cannot buy safe, wholesome food products for your pets at places like Costco, Walmart or Target. Don't even look at pet food products in these places. We all want to try to save money, but buying dog treats at a place like Walmart or at the Dollar Store is a dangerous way to do that. 

Here's the list I found on FB. I have not verified this information, and it is NOT inclusive by any means. But I wouldn't give any of these products to my pets anyway. 

Pet Treats Known To Contain Ingredients Sourced In China:

  

*Waggin Train (Nestle/Purina)

*Canyon Creek Ranch (Nestle/Purina)

*Nestle Purina

*Milo's Kitchen (BigHeart Co., formerly Del Monte) 

*Dogswell

*American Kennel Club

*Hartz

*Dingos

*Beefeaters

*Golden Rewards

*Westminster Pets (Wag-n-Tails)

*Pack N Pride

*Kirkland

*Royal Canin

*Redwood Pet

*PCI Chicken Tenders and Chicken Nibbles

*Dog Nip

*Cadet

*Meijer

*Pet Botanics

*DreamBones

*Ranch Rewards

*Good-n-tasty / Healthy-hide

*Sargents

*Ever Pet ($$ General)

*Home Pet 360

*Walgreen's brand - Simple

*Walgreen's brand - Nice

*Pet Shoppe

*Freebirds

*TheKingdomPets.com

*Sheps (Aldis)

*Pork Chomps

*VitaLife, Pet Authority & President's Choice 

*Target's Boots & Barkley

*Canine Carry Outs

*Smart bones

*Loving Pet Gourmet Duck

*Ruffin' It Healthfuls Sweet Potato Slices-Westminster

*PetWestern Family brand chicken jerky ( Price Smart Foods) 

*Booda Bones - Aspen Pet www.aspenpet.com, www.petmate.com

pet 'n shape: http://www.petnshape.com/products.html

Here are links to The Food Group's Recommended Brands for food and treats; nothing from China, no corn, no wheat, no by-products, no artificial preservatives or chemical additives :

Recommended Food Brands

Recommended Treat Brands

[Chelsie]

Great reminder! Currently I am sitting at my father in law's house. He has a Yorkie. I am looking into the kitchen now and I see pupperonis, pedigree denta stixs, greenies, and bill jacs treats. Not to mention that the dog gets wheat crackers for treats. My dogs eat better than me? Yes they do! I'm proud of that!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So many of the ingredients on the Dog Food Project's list of Ingredients To Avoid are in those treats. Pupperoni is so full of chemicals believed to cause cancer, it's scary. And the smaller the dog, the greatest the risk from these Chinese ingredients. Most of the dogs who have died from them have been Chihuahuas and other toy breeds. I really hope your FIL's Yorkie won;t be affected.

[Chelsie]

I know me too. His 90 old mother does most of the care taking for the dog. She doesn't know better. We were just talking about dog food/treats and she asked if my dogs like tortillas and crackers because they are the yorkie's favorite. I told her my dogs get no grain at all, she was stunned! It's hard for me see the yorkie's food/treats, but I have to watch my words carefully. I hope my little hints will make a change for the Yorkie.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have had to agree to disagree with some of my friends and relatives about what they feed their pets. I know that in many cases, price is the main consideration, and that can be a touchy subject. Sometimes, it helps to talk about it indirectly, like you're just making conversation: "I saw the saddest article the other day about this little dog who died from eating dog treats from China, and I guess there have been quite a few others." LOL

Buying a big bag of some good treats as a gift might help too. With a little dog like a Yorkie, they'd last forever. :)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Okay, so I'm a little redundant. LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

GMTA, Ricki! :)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I understand how tough it is to share the info about good food choices for our dogs. Some people get very defensive, as if you are accusing them of mistreating their dogs....I wish you luck trying to help the little Yorkie.  Maybe you can bring the yorkie some healthy treat "gifts" or "surprises".  My sister lost a Chihuahua to bad treats. It is a very real danger.