My Summer Book Pick – A Stolen Dog (A True Story)

Shortly after Cupcake returned home from her 12 day hiatus a friend suggested that maybe I should write a book about our experience. I took it as a very kind suggestion, but shrugged it off. I didn’t think I could ever encompass our experience in mere words. To some degree, I still don’t. It truly was one of the most emotionally charged, inspiring, scary, disturbing and frustrating experience of my life. You just can’t know what a dog owner goes through when they lose their dog unless you have been through it yourself.

That’s why I was surprised when Tricia O’Malley contacted me to offer me the chance to read and review her book The Stolen Dog. Why? Because it was a true story. HER true story about how her Boston Terrier, Briggs, was stolen and how she got him back.

How was she able to write about something that must have been so difficult to go through?

I sat down to read it on Sunday afternoon and didn’t put it down until I was finished. It reads like a suspense novel. When Briggs first goes missing, Tricia and her husband are at a loss of what to do. They run through the streets calling Brigg’s name – thinking maybe he just got out of their yard somehow. But when a neighbor informs them that a man took their dog right off their deck, they are forced to face the new reality – their dog was stolen and he could be anywhere AND he could be in serious danger.

Tricia and her husband comb their city, Milwaukee, looking for Briggs. At every turn in their story, you wonder if the next person is the dognapper or if they will be harmed as they navigate through some of the darkest and most dangerous neighborhoods of Milwaukee. It’s intense and scary. It also captures every emotion, every experience, every frustration and every bit of hope I felt when Cupcake was missing.

I laughed. I cried. I expressed outrage on her behalf. But mostly, I nodded my head as she shared stories about all of the kind people who entered her life to help her find Briggs. Complete strangers. People just motivated to help because they too, loved dogs. Sometimes from the most unexpected corners too.

I couldn’t wait to get to the end to find out if Briggs was found. I won’t give away the ending, but I will say that it was well worth waiting for.

If you are looking for a good summer read while on the beach this summer, I highly recommend Tricia’s book. Trust me. You won’t be able to put it down either. Plus, she shares a lot of great info along the way on how they got Briggs back. There’s also a little surprise that happens along the way. Let’s just say that if he had a long tail he would be wagging it wildly.

I’m going to be reading it again. Slowly. It is worthy of a second go-around.

I’ll leave you with Tricia’s own words from the last page of her book…

“What I do know is that from now on, I’ll pay more attention to people who ask for help. Why? Because I know what it’s like to feel helpless. Because ultimately, that is what saved Briggs, a community of people who decided to care about a small dog, stolen from a porch, on a sunny day in May.”

I can completely relate.

Extolling the Virtues of a Martingale Collar

Martingale collar from Pink Puppy Designs

The first time I ever saw a Martingale collar was at the dog park. It was worn by a Greyhound that was new to the park.

I probably never even would have noticed the mechanics of the collar if I hadn’t noticed the beautiful coloring of it first. The collar was made of a bright and colorful fabric mixed with a swirl of blues and green and purple. It stood out.

I remember asking the dog’s mom where she had gotten it and her telling me all about the collar, where she had purchased it and why she had it. I was fascinated. Having a dog who regularly slipped her collar (Daisy), I loved the idea that I could purchase a collar that she couldn’t slip out of.

If you have never seen one before, a Martingale collar has two loops instead of one. Most dog collars you see these days are the simple ones that go around the dog’s neck (and hopefully, stay on them) and clip into a buckle. The Martingale collar is different. It is designed to prevent dogs from easily slipping out of their collars.  The beauty of the design is that it does this without cutting off dog’s airflow, as those old choker chains did when I was a kid.

The Martingale is often seen on Greyhounds because a regular collar does not work on them. Why? Because, like Shelties, a Greyhound’s head is smaller than their neck, which means a regular collar can easily slip off their neck, over their head, and they can be off and running before you can catch them. A Martingale allows the collar to tighten around the dogs’ neck without hurting them. The idea here is to keep your dog safe and in your control.

So why am I extolling the virtues of a Martingale collar today? Because I want dog owners to be aware of what is available to them, especially if they have a fearful or skittish dog (or just a dog who regularly slips their collar). Is your dog frightened by loud noises and looks for a place to run and hide? Get a Martingale collar. Does your dog like to chase runners like Jasper does? Get a Martingale collar.

Over the past few months, I have seen WAY too many Lost Sheltie signs and I have seen WAY too many dogs lost because they slipped their collar or weren’t properly leashed. I know it’s selfish, but I am tired of crying over someone’s dog who died because they slipped their collar and got hit by a car. If you have a dog that slips their collar, please consider getting a Martingale (and a harness wouldn’t be a bad idea either). Let’s keep them safe and in our control. I don’t want to read about another dead dog. I’m sure you don’t either.

If you are looking for some great Martingale collars, check out Pink Puppy Designs. They are colorful and fun and safe.

Do you have one-on-one time with your dog?

Daisy playing Chess

This past weekend my friend Emily posted a picture of her and her dog, Lilly, on a special outing together. It was their girls day out.

It brought back a lot of happy memories of my outings with Daisy. Back when I was a pet sitter, she used to ride with me on some of my pet visits. I would also take her on special outings to get some ice cream (that’s probably how she got to be 75 lbs back then!). I would buy one ice cream cone for me and one for her. Then, we would go sit in a park and watch the world go by as we enjoyed our cones and each others company.

Seeing Emily’s picture reminded me how long it has been since we’ve done something like that. Now that I have three dogs, it can be hard to get that one-on-one time with any one of them. But last night I had the opportunity to enjoy some one-on-one time with each of my dogs and it felt really good, especially with Daisy.

Since it was so cold out, I decided to switch things up a bit and bring out our doggie puzzle from Trixie and let each of the dogs have their own chance to play with it. The game is called Chess and it comes with 4 yellow cups and a board with sliding squares. Under the squares are little holes in which you can place treats. The squares also have holes in them so you can place treats in them and cover them with the cups. It requires a dog to really use their brain to figure out how to get to the treats.

I decided Daisy would be first. I set up a baby gate so Jasper and Cupcake were on one side and Daisy and I on the other. Then, I placed the game (loaded with tiny pieces of pork) on the floor. Daisy was very nervous at first, not having really played with the puzzle much before, but she was also very intrigued by the smells coming from it.  Since she was nervous about what to do, I sat down on the floor near her. I placed the game in front of her, but she still seemed unsure, so I showed her some of the hidden pieces of pork and then covered them up again.

She tentatively reached out with her nose to smell one yellow cup. Then she nudged it a little. The cup started to topple over. She jumped. She went back again and nudged the cup aside and grabbed the piece of meat. It took time, but eventually, with my encouragement and revealing the treats to her from time to time, she eventually started to figure it out. And with each successive find, she became more confident.

It was so rewarding to sit next to her and work the puzzle together. We worked as a team and had so much fun in doing so.

Cupcake is a pro at Chess

After each round, we would just sit there and hang out, I would give her belly rubs and kisses, and she would give me nose bumps and pleading looks for more of the same. It was a very special evening. I can’t remember how many times we did this, but I think it was at least five. I think she loved our time together as much as she loved getting the treats

Afterwards, Jasper and Cupcake got their special time alone with me and we did the same thing. They seemed to enjoy it just as much as Daisy.

Having this special time together with each of my dogs makes me think that I need to do this kind of thing more often. Maybe each dog should have their special day.

What do you think? Do you have special days with your dog? If you have more than one dog, do you take time out to spend it with just one dog at a time? I would love to hear what you have to say.

Jasper loves Chess

An Open Letter to Petsmart

Dear Petsmart

I am writing to you to express my deep disappointment in your company and, in my opinion, it’s clear lack of responsibility and concern for its customers and their pets.

On November 18th, I entered one of your stores with the sole purpose of purchasing some cat food and cat litter for my cat.

As I entered the store, I immediately noticed a colorful display featuring Christmas colors and decorations featuring chicken jerky treats made by Nestle-Purina. The bin containing the treats was huge (approximately 4′ x 4′ x4′) and had large signs posted all over it announcing a sale on the large bags of treats.  It was conveniently located right behind the cash registers where people were bound to see it.

I am guessing that many an unsuspecting dog owner has been waiting in line and seen that conveniently placed large bin of treats and made a last-minute purchase for their pet, thinking it would be a nice “special’ treat to give them. Little did they know that in doing so they could be placing their pet’s life in danger. But, you did know, didn’t you?

I am embarrassed to say that I went ahead and got my cat supplies, instead of leaving immediately, and stood in line at the cash register, continuously looking at that bin of chicken jerky treats with disgust and disappointment.

I was so upset I even mentioned it to the cashier, telling her how disappointed I was that Petsmart was promoting a product that had been linked to so many dog illnesses and deaths. What she told me next was either a bald-faced lie or something she made up on her own. She said that the dogs who had gotten sick had only gotten sick because people were feeding them to their pets as meals and not treats. Seriously? Are you kidding me?

I was furious. I told her that she was wrong and that what she said wasn’t true. She didn’t respond any further, but I left your store absolutely fuming. What the hell???

I was so mad that I then posted this on my Facebook page:

“Wow Petsmart. Is that what you’re telling people now? The dogs that died from Chicken Jerky treats died because the owners were feeding them as meals. Really? Nice that you have them in a big sales display by the registers too. On sale. Ugh!!!!!”

I expected to have some of my dog blogging friends to comment on my post, but imagine my surprise when one of my friends mentioned she had been told the very same thing about a month before by another Petsmart employee in another state!

Kind of a strange coincidence don’t you think Petsmart? It makes me wonder… Are you purposely lying to your customers so they will spend money in your store regardless of the danger these treats pose to their pets? Or, are you selling these treats because you have some sort of contract with their maker that you must fulfill? Neither answer is a very good one for your customers is it?  If they lose their pet, you still make money. If they lose their pet, the company making the treats still makes money too. But, is it worth losing a customer and their money?

Because you just lost me. You may choose to sell these products for the almighty dollar, but you will never see my dollars gracing your store again. You can choose to be honest with your customers and tell them the truth AND stop selling these treats, OR you can choose to put money before the pets you so actively claim to care about, but you can’t do both. I won’t support a company that tells its customers that the only dogs impacted by these treats were the ones who were fed it as “a meal.” You know it’s not true and so do I.

By the way…

That same day, another friend who also happens to be a pet sitter told me about a dog client who almost died after her client fed them to her dog. Luckily, my friend was aware of the dangers of these treats and alerted her client immediately. The dog spent a week in the care of university veterinarians and almost didn’t make it.

A week later, a friend contacted me because both her dogs were ill. They were throwing up, had diarrhea and were lethargic. My first thought was to ask her if she had given them any of these treats. She had. Imagine her horror at discovering the treats could have killed her cherished companions? Fortunately for her, her dogs recovered, but so many have not.

Signed,

Your former customer

For Pet Owners:

Canadian Video Exposes the Dangers of Chinese Chicken Jerky Treats (Dog Food Advisor)

Documents Related to Jerky Treats Investigation Released by FDA (PetSitUSA)

Nestle Purina: Recall Chicken Jerky Treats Made in China (Change.org)

FDA Reports 360 Dogs, 1 Cat Dead After Eating Chicken Jerky Treats (NBCBayArea.com)

Dogs Still Dying of Chinese Made Jerky Treats, Enough is Enough (Steve Dale, ChicagoNow)

FDA warns about US-made chicken jerky pet treats (NBCNews.com)

Two ways to win a Hartz® Angry Birds® dog toy for your dog

And here are the winners of the Hartz Angry Birds Contest!
Maya Zaido
Samantha or Sam
Amber D
AmyOrvin

Congrats everyone! Just send an email to nodogaboutitblog@gmail.com with your address and I will send your pup an Angry Bird for the holidays!

Today, at No Dog About It blog we are introducing a contest to celebrate the announcement of the holiday-themed Hartz® Angry Birds® dog toys just in time for the holidays.

Hartz® has created 4 new holiday-themed dog toys (see pictures below) that they will be giving away on their Facebook page in the next few weeks. To kick things off, they have also given me four of the same birds to giveaway on my blog!

Doesn’t your dog want an Angry Birds® dog toy for the holidays?

There are two ways to win:

1.  Go to the Hartz Pets Facebook page and “Like” them so you can guess the location of each of the four Angry Birds®.

• There are four unique holiday Angry Birds toys that will be shown in four different holiday locations. Throughout the next four weeks, the location of the birds will slowly be revealed.  How?
• Each week (Monday-Sunday) a photo of one of the toys will be featured on Hartz’s Facebook page with only a small amount of the photo visible. As the week progresses, more and more of the photo will become visible and be fully revealed each Sunday.
• You can submit your guesses on each toy’s location as many times as you want on the Facebook page and have the chance to win your own limited edition set of all four characters.

2.  Leave a comment below stating why you think your dog would like to receive a Hartz® Angry Birds® dog toy for the holidays.

• The contest will run from now until midnight (12:00 AM Central Time), December 8, 2012.
• One Angry Bird will be awarded to each of the four winners.
• Winners will be selected at random using Random.org and will be notified via email.
• Winners will have three days to claim their prize, or another winner will be drawn from the entry pool.
• I will post the winner’s names on my blog on December 9, 2012.

Good luck everyone!

Don’t forget to check out the Hartz Holiday Gift Guide for more gift ideas for your pet!

Dogs – Cool Finds on Pinterest

I don’t know about you, but I find Pinterest is very addictive. Once I start, I can’t stop. Suddenly, it’s hours later and I wonder what I did with my time!

I you haven’t joined Pinterest yet, you may want to, especially if you are a DIY type of person. You can get some great ideas from others. You can also find some pretty amazing dog stuff on Pinterest, including art, clothing, collars, tags, etc.

People even have their future dogs pinned on their pages!

I thought I it would be fun to share some of my more strange, interesting and cool finds with you. You can click on the picture to learn more about the product or to go purchase it.

So what have been your favorite finds on Pinterest?

*******************************************************************************************************************************

I love these dog bowls. They are removable and don’t take up a lot of space.

Pet Eatery Dog Food Bowls

Dog Sign

Okay, I admit it. I probably wouldn’t buy one myself, but it’s just quirky enough to be appealing.

Dog Lamp

I fell in love with this line of t-shirts some time ago. They carry quite a lot of breeds and the images are amazing. I’ve seen one in person, and they are just as beautiful as the images. Definitely getting one of these – well, two of these. One Lab and one Sheltie.

Dog T-Shirt

I think this is supposed to be a new concept in dog food packaging. It’s supposed to take up less space and more eco-conscious. Doesn’t fill up the landfills as fast.

Sausage Dog Food

A little out of my price range, but if I had the money you can bet I would buy one. I absolutely love this as an art piece.

Dog Blue Print Pictures

I’m not quite sure what to say about this product (having never tested it myself), but I have to wonder – is the hole big enough for Great Dane poop?

Dog Dung Vacuum

This one is for all my doggie friends who have dogs that won’t go out in the rain. Might be worth a try!

The Dogbrella

Oh yes, I absolutely HAD to include this one. It features Shelties!

Outdoor Dog Chaise Lounger

This is some luxury dog bed, but the story is a pretty cool one. It was designed by Swank Lighting as part of a fundraiser for the Dallas SPCA. Someone got a pretty cool dog bed!

Swank Lighting Dog Bed for SPCA

I just loved the look of this ring. it’s adorable. The best part? It’s only $10!

MINIATURE PUPPY DOG ANIMAL WRAP RING from DOTOLY

This isn’t something you can buy. I have no link to a page. But, it’s one of those things worth sharing.

Following Atticus – A man, a dog and a call to nature

Today I am doing a review of the book, Following Atticus. It is a book my friend Edie Jarolim, first reviewed on her blog, Will My Dog Hate Me? I had always intended to read it, but as is often the case, life got in the way. That’s why I was so very happy when I was offered the chance to review this book on my own blog. I received a copy of Following Atticus as part of the review request, but I will be sharing it with friends and family as soon as I can. I loved it. I hope you will check it out.

I think I fell in love with Tom Ryan and his dog, Atticus M. Finch, from the first moment I opened their book, Following Atticus. It’s pretty hard not to fall in love with a book that speaks to your soul in so many different ways.

I should have known I would love it when I read in the prologue - “I have come to judge a good story as one that makes me feel as if I’m losing a friend when I read the final page, close the book, and put it down for the last time.” Indeed. For that is exactly how I felt when I read the last page of Following Atticus.

The story begins in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where Tom Ryan is the sole owner, editor and publisher of his own newspaper, The Undertoad, a paper that follows in the muckraker tradition of truth-telling and investigative journalism. He is knowledgeable, respected, hated, and admired by all in this small town, and as a result he lives a busy and somewhat dangerous life.

Then one day, he agrees to take a dog into his life, Max. Max is an abandoned dog that nobody wants. Tom takes him in and gives him a home. It changes his life. Max becomes his inseparable companion and the town mascot. Sadly, Max is only with him for a year and half before he is gone, but the relationship they shared was to lead to an even greater one.

When Tom meets Atticus Finch he is a tiny little thing. A gray miniature schnauzer puppy with white eyebrows, chest and paws. He is also something else. Unusual. From the beginning, he seems to have a wisdom and understanding that is almost human-like. Maybe it was Tom’s determination to let Atticus be himself, even his name was chosen to give him his own identity, or maybe Atticus was simply born with an independence could not be contained. Either way, he is unique and different and special, and he changes Tom’s life.

He changes it in subtle ways at first -  long walks through town to visit its patrons, bike rides together, and weekends spent away from the city in a little cabin in the woods. It is there that Tom and Atticus begin to explore and to discover a new and shared passion – hiking the White mountains of New Hampshire. Soon they are off on adventure that can only be described as transformative. They start on a journey to hike all 48 of the “4000-footers” – the mountains above 4000 feet, and then to hike them twice in one winter season. All along the way is Atticus, the “Little Buddha,” guiding Tom on his journey, battling the elements right alongside Tom. He is smart, wise and inspiring.

Reading about Atticus’ meditative moments atop each mountaintop made me feel a sense of longing. I wanted to feel his sense of peace, his connectedness to his environment. I wanted to feel Tom’s sense of awe and wonder at every mountain peak. his jubilation at each goal met. I wanted to feel his sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction. But more than that, I wanted to feel what he and Atticus so clearly felt with each hike – a communion with each other and with the natural world around them. There is something that happens to the soul when you connect with nature. Tom described it as such, “It’s the natural world that heals the soul.” I believe that wholeheartedly.

Many might describe Following Atticus as just a story about a man and his little dog, but it is so much more than that. It is the story of reawakening and the healing of one man’s soul. It is also the story of renewal and transformation. At it’s core, it is a reminder of who we are when we are one with nature. I have no doubt this book will inspire many to take to the mountains, the woods and the forests. In the words of John Muir (quoted often by Tom Ryan)…

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” [John Muir (1838 - 1914), Our National Parks, 1901]

Following Atticus certainly did that for me.

You can learn more about Tom and Atticus:

On their blog – The Adventures of Tom & Atticus

On their Facebook page – Following Atticus.

Ashley’s Story: A Cautionary Tale That May Save Your Dog’s Life

Last week I happened upon this story (“Dog Owners Beware”) and knew that I needed to share it with all of you.

The post is written by Ashley Sassaman and is about the death of her dog, Jack, after he received an injection at the vet’s office. It’s a very sad story, but it’s also a heads up to all of us pet owners. We should all ask for the facts, side effects, and other additional information when our vet (or doctor) recommends any drug to us or our pets.

The drug Jack received was ProHeart 6  – A “new” heartworm preventative shot that is meant to replace the chewable tablets most of us dog owners currently use.

After Jack’s death, Ashley researched ProHeart 6 and what she found out was deeply concerning. A history of dog deaths going back to before 2004, when the drug was finally pulled off the market.

She also found out that in 2008, the drug was reintroduced to the marketplace with more precautionary steps attached to it - additional warning labels on the packaging, required web-based training for veterinarians, drug fact sheets and “informed consent” forms that were required to be given to owners and signed before the injection could be administered to their pet.

I am urge you to read her story, and the latest on the drug maker’s response. It will be worth your time.

At your next vet visit, make sure to ask for the facts, side effects, and other additional information about the drugs being given to your pet. It will be worth your time.

More to read:

Justice for Jack – Ashley answer the most frequently asked questions

ProHeart6: Proheart’s Back Story — Disturbing Details; Advice to Hold Off Using It (The Senior Dogs Project)

Client Information about ProHeart 6 (moxidectin)  

It’s baaaack! ProHeart 6 attempts a cautious return (Pet MD.com)

The Easiest Pet Product Review Ever!

I’m going to be completely honest here. I have a love/hate relationship with product reviews. I love doing them when I really like a product, but I hate the inherent sense of obligation I feel to write a positive review.

As a result, I don’t do them very often, and when I do I tend to only choose those products I know and love, trust or intrigue me.

But when FURminator® contacted me about reviewing their new line of grooming products I was more than happy to say yes. Why? Because I already have one of their products, the original FURminator® deShedding tool. It was recommended to me by a friend who also has a Lab, like Daisy, who sheds a lot. I purchased one that very same day and have used it ever since.

What I didn’t know was that, in the intervening years, FURminator® had come out with a whole new line of grooming products. I also didn’t know they had an easy way for pet parents to choose the exact right tool(s) to use with their particular pet. After answering a few questions in the Tell Us About Your Dog tool, I was told that I needed the Small Firm Slicker Brush and the Small Finishing Comb.

I knew that FURminator® had recommended the right tools because Jasper and Lady’s groomer had recommended a slicker brush and comb to me when we last saw her in March.

I’m not going to go through all the grooming details, but what I can tell you is that I LOVE these tools! Even better, Jasper and Lady actually seemed okay with their grooming session for the very first time.

Under the best of circumstances, Jasper will only tolerate me grooming him for a few minutes, then he gets all nippy, especially when I do his back-end. Lady usually shakes like a leaf (even with high-value treats in hand), so I usually groom her a little bit at a time with lots of breaks in between grooming sessions. But when I used the FURminator® tools, Lady stood there patiently and stopped shaking almost immediately.  Jasper let me groom him for about 10 minutes!. Clearly, I have been using the wrong grooming tools (even though they were recommended to me by a pet store clerk).

So what made these tools different?

The Small Slicker Brush has a very unusual feature to it. The tines sit on two flexible paddles that move with the contour of a dog’s body. The first time I used it I was surprised to discover the paddles moved, but after using it on both dogs I can completely appreciate the beauty of the design. It doesn’t pull the fur, but glides through it very easily. It’s so smart!

The Small Finishing Comb did not have the sharp ends like the ones on my traditional grooming rake, and tines also have some movement to them. It helped me to get out some of the tangles I have always had a problem with in the past.

To be honest, I was amazed at the difference it made in the results too.

I could go on and on about what I like about these two products, but to me what was most important was knowing how much less stressed Jasper and Lady were throughout the process.

Writing this review was one of the easiest I have ever done. I WILL be using these grooming tools from now on.

The Pet Food Recall and Concerning Implications

As some of you may know, Diamond Pet food issued an expansion to their recall Friday evening. This is commonly known as a dump and run by many who have dealt with these recalls before. A dump and run is when a company, in this case Diamond, Wellness and many others, issue a press release/recall after closing hours so they don’t have to deal with consumer questions and complaints. I guess they are hoping that we will all have forgotten about the recall by Monday morning.

What concerns me most (in addition to the latest recall) are the four other pieces I read late Friday and Saturday evening.

Distributor States Canidae, Natural Balance, and one Wellness Product Recalled  (May 4, 2012, Truth About Pet Food) Please note: it’s what is in this post and not in the Diamond Foods release that concerns me.

CDC: Salmonella in dog food sickens 14 people in US; SC plant had toxic mold problem in 2005 (May 4, 2012, Washington Post)

Salmonella in dog food sickens 14 people across US (May 4, 2012, Wall Street Journal)

State and Federal Programs Helped Catch Contaminated Dog Food: 14 humans ill; CDC says dog illnesses are not tracked (May 5, 2012, Food Safety News)

The toxic mold that was found in this same South Carolina plant in 2005? It killed dozens of dogs. Yes, the latest recalls have to do with Salmonella, but 5 people have already been hospitalized. What would it do to a person with a compromised immune system?

Maybe that’s why Therese Kopiwoda’s post over at PetSitUSA resonated with me so much. Dear Pet Food Companies Have some respect

I am guessing I am not the only one feeling a bit angry and frustrated by all these recalls.

What are we supposed to feed our dogs when even the most trusted brands are compromised? Already I have spoken with two different people who’s dogs or friend’s dogs were being fed the recalled food – both trusted brands. No answers seem to be forthcoming right now, but I think Diamond and the others need to answer a whole lot of questions before I  and many other pet food owners trust them again. I have decided to go completely with The Honest Kitchen.

I wrote this piece back in 2010, but given all the recalls I wanted to share it again - Why You Should Save Your Dog/Cat Food Bag. Please keep your dog and cat food bags. I don’t know where this will end, but I suspect that this is not over yet.

More information on specific company recalls:

Canidae (The recall affects only products distributed in the following Eastern U.S. states and were manufactured at the Diamond Pet Food Gaston, South Carolina plant. Further distribution to other pet food channels may have occurred. States: Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee)

Diamond (The recall affects only products distributed in the following U.S. states and Canada.  Further distribution through other pet food channels may have occurred. States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Canada)

Natural Balance (This one DOES include Minnesota. States: Recalled products may have been distributed in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Canada.)

Taste of the Wild ((The recall affects only products distributed in the following U.S. states and Canada.  Further distribution through other pet food channels may have occurred. States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Canada)

Wellness (No states listed)

For the latest updates on the recall, please go to PetsitUSA.