Alright, it isn’t an offer for anyone to tackle Michael Vick, it’s a challenge to the Redskins.

The Main Line Animal Rescue, based out of D.C., put an ad in The Washington Post that some may consider a bit controversial. I, on the other hand, think it’s the first sensible news having to do with Michael Vick that I’ve seen in a while.

The company pledged to donate five bags of dog food to local D.C. shelters every time the Redskins tackle Michael Vick when they play the Eagles on October 26th. According to Fox Sports,the founder and CEO of the shelter Bill Smith is skeptical of Vick’s newfound concern for dogs.

I think we’re all getting tired of the ‘Does he deserve a second chance?’ kind of thing,” Bill Smith told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I think we just need to raise public awareness, and this is a good way to do that. It may be funny. It may be clever. It may not.”

The ad encourages people to volunteer at a shelter on game day.  Volunteering at a shelter any time is a good idea, you don’t need to wait for a special occasion.

* Pepper Anne is at the Washington Humane Society, she’s a 1 year old Chow Chow brought to the  shelter after her owners got evicted from their home and had nowhere to keep her anymore. If you’re interested in this beautiful girl visit the WHS website.

We all know things are tough out there, everyone is feeling the pinch. Pet food pantries have been springing up around the country to help pet owners in need. In many cases food pantries make the difference between keeping or having to  give up a beloved pet.

There is a food drive going on in Omaha, now through August 31st. I encourage anyone in that area to drop off some food at any of the locations listed below. Even a small bag will help, no amount is too little.

Four Legged Food Drive:

Omaha families get help from Best Friends Animal Society to keep their pets despite tough economy.

This summer Best Friends Animal Society volunteers will be working in 13 cities, including Omaha, to collect pet food for families in need, in the First Home Forever Home Four Legged Food Drive.

From July 6 through August 31, the Omaha team will be collecting all kinds of sealed and unexpired pet food. The drive will benefit the Omaha Food Bank, 6824 J Street, Omaha, NE. For complete list of locations please see the Nebraska Community on the Best Friends Network or scroll to bottom of this release for listing.

Jackie Roach, project leader for the Omaha Team No More Homeless Pets® said:

“Some people may be able to keep their beloved pets with a little pet food help. Most are beyond grateful to receive that help. There is nothing more rewarding than preventing an animal from being displaced and helping to keep the family intact. Just like the animals, many families suffer when they feel they have no other choice but to surrender their pets. It’s heartbreaking. The animal is confused and completely freaked out by being in the shelter and the family misses their most loyal companion and worries about their fate.”

Ellen Gilmore, campaign coordinator for Best Friends Animal Society’s campaign First Home Forever Home-which is helping people provide a loving, forever home for their pets-explained the urgency of the food drive:

“In the past year more pets have been finding themselves homeless because their families are facing tough economic times. With or without the downturn in the economy, every community has a homeless pet problem. In the past year, however, the number of pets who become homeless via relinquishment to animal shelters and abandonment has increased because of current economic conditions, foreclosures and joblessness.

“Best Friends is responding to that need because helping provide free pet food will help some people keep their pets. This summer Best Friends and our Team No More Homeless Pets® volunteers will be working in cities across the United States to collect pet food for families in need in the First Home Forever Home Four Legged Food Drive.”

─ MORE ─

DONATION LOCATIONS:

Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals – all three locations

15230 W. Maple Road

Omaha, NE 68116

402-445-4400

12031 Blondo

Omaha, NE 68164

402-493-9650

8911 Grant Street

Omaha, NE 68134

402-397-4344

Nature Dog

3647 North 129th St

(Eagle Run Square)

Omaha, NE 68164

402-697-7156

BonaFide Dog Academy

14840 Grover Street

(one block south of Industrial Rd.)

Omaha, NE 68144

402-250-9452

Dogtopia

13239 Portal Drive

(off S. 132nd Street just south of Giles Rd.)

LaVista, NE 68138

402-502-4797

A Hill of Beans Coffee Roasters

14512 W. Center Road

(Harvey Oaks Plaza)

Omaha, NE 68144

402-333-6048

Studio…Gallery

4965 Dodge St

Omaha, NE 68132

About First Home Forever Home: Best Animal Society’s First Home Forever Home campaign focuses on all aspects of helping people make and honor a lifetime commitment to their pets. Millions of companion animals die every year in crowded shelters because their families decided to let them go for some reason.

Through education, intervention and action, First Home Forever Home provides guidance and resources to help people care for their pets and keep them as loved members of their families.

About Best Friends Animal Society: Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit, membership organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. The society’s leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country’s largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of members and community partners across the nation. In 2009, Best Friends celebrates its 25th anniversary.

* Photo from Best Friends

The following is not a recall, the FDA has suspended  Evanger’s emergency permit so they can no longer ship their food interstate.

FDA Suspends Temporary Emergency Permit of Pet Food Maker

June 12, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today it was suspending the temporary Emergency Permit issued to Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc.

Evanger’s, operating in Wheeling, Illinois, deviated from the prescribed process, equipment, product shipment, and record keeping requirements in the production of the company’s thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products. The deviations in their processes and documentation could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans.

In April 2008, Evanger’s was issued an “Order of Need for Emergency Permit” after the agency determined that the company had failed to meet the regulatory requirements to process a product that does not present a health risk. In June, 2008, FDA issued Evanger’s a temporary Emergency Permit. During inspections conducted between March 2009 and April 2009, FDA determined Evanger’s was not operating in compliance with the mandatory requirements and conditions of the Temporary Emergency Permit.

“The FDA is stopping Evanger’s ability to ship pet food in interstate commerce,” said Dr. Bernadette Dunham. “Today’s enforcement action sends a strong message to manufacturers of pet food that we will take whatever action necessary to keep unsafe products from reaching consumers.”

In order for Evanger’s to resume shipping in interstate commerce, the company must document that corrective actions and processing procedures have been implemented to ensure that the finished product will not present a health hazard.

Botulism is a powerful toxin that affects the nervous system and can be fatal. The disease has been documented in dogs and cats. Signs of botulism in animals are progressive muscle paralysis, disturbed vision, difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and progressive weakness to the body. Death is usually due to paralysis of the heart or the muscles used in breathing.

While FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is responsible for regulating all human and animal LACF processing, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has authority over animal feed and foods. The two centers are collaborating on this enforcement action.

Joel Sher, the VP of Evanger Dog & Cat Food Company, has issued a response.

Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company Responds to FDA News Release
June 12, 2009

To our valued customers:
In August of 2008, while updating required process information to the FDA our “process authority” (processing expert) inadvertently deleted pertinent filings. Evanger’s has been working with the FDA to resolve this issue quickly. This situation does not call into question the safety of any Evanger’s products.

No Evanger’s product are involved in any recall, nor is there any indication that any Evanger’s product is unsafe. Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co. continues to manufacture the highest quality, wholesome, nutritious and safe products as it has done for 75 years.
“As our customers, retailers and distributors know, Evanger’s takes the quality and safety of its pet foods very seriously,” said Holly Sher, president of Evanger’s. “Evanger’s has a long history of using only human-grade ingredients in our products. The FDA has not called into question the wholesomeness of any ingredient we use. We are confident Evanger’s products continue to be safe, wholesome and natural, so confident that we continue to feed them daily to our own pets.”

All ingredients in Evanger’s products are sourced in the United States and all manufacturing is done in its suburban Chicago facility. The routine FDA inspection was related only to Evanger’s canned foods and is not affiliated with of production its dry pet food or treat products.

As the United States’ oldest natural pet food company, Evanger’s products are known for their human-grade ingredients, including hand-packed meats, fish and poultry, and 100% meat and organic meals.
Consumers and distributors may contact Evanger’s customer service department at US +1 8002886796 Call for further information. In addition, all new or updated information will be immediately posted to our Website, http://www.evangersdogfood.com/

Respectfully,
Joel Sher
Vice President
Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc

* Pic of some of Evanger’s dog food from their site.

There’s nothing better than a heartwarming story involving kids and dogs, this one definitely fits the bill.

A 13-year-old girl in Jacksonville, FL. has spent the last seven years collecting  1,000 lbs. of dog food for Animal Care and Control.

Since the age of six Chelsie Williams has asked friends and family to skip the presents for her last 7 birthdays and give her donations of dog and cat food instead. Chelsie has managed to collect 1000 pounds of food for Animal Care and Control and was planning on donating it on her 13th birthday.

Long-time grocer Winn-Dixie found out about Chelsie’s success and the company has offered to match her donation and then some: 1000 pounds of dog food + 1000 pounds of cat food.

ACC and Chelsie will accept the corporate donation at the Winn-Dixie on Beach Blvd and Parental Home Road. After the donation has been given by Winn-Dixie, Chelsie will get her well-deserved birthday party at the ACC. ACC has a small gift for her and plans on letting her feed and work with some of the adoptable pets. Winn-Dixie has been a great community leader for many years here.

Three cheers for Chelsie, what a wonderful teen. We give her four paws up, way up.

* Casey showing off his food bowl.

Okay, fess up, who out there has tried dog food or a dog treat?

A study done by the American Assn. of Wine Economists found that in a blind taste test most participants couldn’t distinguish between dog food and human food.

Researchers provided 18 volunteers five food samples to try in a blind taste test. Only three were able to identify the canine fodder.

“We have this idea in our head that dog food won’t taste good and that we would be able to identify it, but it turns out that is not the case,” said Robin Goldstein, a co-author of the study that is expected to be published online today.

Goldstein said the tasting demonstrated that “context plays a huge role in taste and value judgment,” even though researchers warned the participants that one of the five foods they were going to taste was dog food.

The five samples came from a wide price range and were processed to have a similar consistency. The foods were duck liver mousse, pork liver pâté, two imitation pâtés — pureed liverwurst and Spam — and Newman’s Own dog food.

Eight participants believed the liverwurst was the dog food, and four thought the Spam was the culprit.

Two people identified the high-end pâté as dog food, and one identified the duck liver mousse as dog food.

Strangely, while most participants couldn’t pick out the dog food 72% chose the dog food as the worst tasting pate.

Most interesting to me was the fact this study was done by the American Assn. of Wine Economists. I’d be a little wary of eating the hors d’ouevers served at any of their seminars.

*Mr B isn’t fooled that he’s eating dog food just because it’s served on a plate.

There is no recall on this food, but it’s important that you as a consumer have all the information on a product so you can make an informed decision before you purchase it.

On April 20, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that it is investigating Nutro® pet food products following consumer allegations that Nutro® food products have caused pets to become sick or die. The consumer complaints began over 2 years ago. Some of the symptoms reported include gastrointestinal problems, difficulty in urination, and lethargy.

Nutro®, which is owned by Mars Inc., has denied that its food is to blame for these pets’ illnesses. For concerned customers, the company can be reached at 1-800-833-5330.

Consumeraffairs.com, an independent online consumer news and resource center, also asked Dr. Steven Hansen, a veterinary toxicologist with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), to review some of the Nutro complaints. Dr. Hansen stated that the cases of alleged Nutro illnesses and deaths are “not consistent and appear to be anecdotal with no real definitive diagnostic findings.” Dr. Hansen then added, “This does appear to us to be a situation where bad things happen, but they are not likely food-related.”

While no conclusions can be drawn at this point, if you are feeding your dog Nutro products, please use caution and stay informed about the latest updates as the FDA’s investigation continues.

For more in-depth information read the full article on the Consumer Affairs site. Thank you to Abby for barking this to me.

*Tribble waiting for kibble

Passover is going to the dogs, literally. Your pup can join in a pet Seder at the Wigglyville pet store in Chicago.

WHEN Robert Uri Heller, a psychologist and professor at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, leads a Passover Seder in Chicago on Saturday, some of the rituals symbolizing Jews’ exodus from Egypt may be lost on the yarmulke-wearing guests.

Those guests will, after all, be dogs.

The Seder, which will be conducted at a pet store, Wigglyville, is being sponsored by Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company to promote its kosher varieties, which have been endorsed by the Chicago Rabbinical Council.

Dr. Heller, who keeps kosher and feeds Evanger’s to Lilly, his wheaten terrier, has led Seders for dogs at pet stores in the past, “much to the chagrin” of many at his synagogue, he says.

“They say, ‘How could you do it for dogs, isn’t it sacrilegious?’ ” Dr. Heller said. “And my answer is, ‘We’re having fun.’ ”

For Evanger’s, though, it is serious business. Holly Sher, who owns the company, which is based in Wheeling, Ill., said that in the week before Passover she receives dozens of calls from Jews, who sometimes learn only a few days before the week long holiday that she makes kosher food, and want her to send a 24-can case overnight. The cost of shipping alone to New York, where she has sent many of the orders, is $110, added to the cost of the food, more than $70 a case for some varieties.

For any pups in the Chicago area who have no Passover plans this sounds like just the ticket.  Head to Wigglyville for good food, good friends, and a good time all while keeping kosher.

* Pic of Ella at last year’s Sedar courtesy Joshua Lott/Chicago Tribune

This is not your normal donation story. The food was originally purchased to test new baggage conveyors at Sea-Tac International Airport. The Port of Seattle purchased the 1,600 bags, at a cost of $40,000, because the weight of the food was perfect for testing.

So, after the testing is over, what do you do with 12.7 short tons of dog food?  What else, you donate it.

It’s not uncommon for the Seattle Animal Shelter to get calls from people wanting to donate dog food. So when a woman called late last week about dropping some off, a receptionist told her to leave the bags in a bin near the entrance.

But there was a problem: 12.7 short tons of dog food wouldn’t fit in a single bin.

“We have room for maybe a pallet’s worth,” said Kara Main-Hester, manager of shelter volunteer programs and fundraising. “We don’t have a place to put all of it.”

Last week, a staff member called Northwest Harvest, an organization that works with about 300 food banks and meal programs statewide.

“This will make a big difference for people, especially those who don’t have much else” spokeswoman Claire Acey said Tuesday.

In today’s economy more and more people are looking for pet food pantries to help out.  The 1,600 bags of dog food is going to be a tremendous help in getting dogs who may not have had food get fed.

*Olio is a beautiful Chow Chow mix adoptable from the Seattle Animal Shelter, see more dogs on their Petfinder page.

Tyson foods, that is.  The meatpacking giant is taking a gamble that the economy is going to the dogs, and dog food too. They formed an alliance with another company to produce deli-like dog food. Interesting, my dogs are behind  me salivating as they read this.

Tyson, Springdale, Ark., is expected to announce Tuesday that it bought a minority stake for millions of dollars in closely held Freshpet Co., a Secaucus, N.J., company that is rolling out refrigerated dog food to thousands of stores such as Kroger, Supervalu and PetSmart.

The Freshpet brand is unusual because the company’s executives, a collection of former Meow Mix managers, are trying to make dog food look, smell and taste as much like human food as possible. The line, the first national brand of refrigerated pet food, is aimed at consumers who give their pets everything from clothes and car seats to cemetery graves.

“Everyone talks about the humanization of pets,” said Scott Morris, Freshpet marketing vice president. “But pet food looks the same as it did 30 years ago.”

Although Tyson has taken some criticism for pursuing this during a recession, they’re betting that dog lovers won’t cut corners when it comes to pet food.

Paul Bulcke, chief executive of Swiss foods giant Nestlé SA, which owns several pet-food brands, said earlier this month that consumers who have “humanized” their pets refuse to trade down despite the economic climate.

What do you think, is Tyson setting themselves up for a KO, or to be KO’d ?  Give me a bark.

* “Why yes, that does look deli fresh,” said Oreo.

Have you snapped at your sister, stolen food, eaten something you’re not supposed to, like a couch?  Perhaps it’s time to come clean, and make a Dogfession.

There is a great fundraiser going on, through the combined efforts of Dogfessions and Rachael Ray’s NUTRISH dog food, to raise food for shelter dogs.

Postcards = Food for Shelter Dogs!

Dogfessions and Dogvice (and Pugfessions/Pugvice and Bullyfessions/Bullyvice) would like to thank Rachael Ray’s NUTRISH dog food for pledging a pound of dog food to shelter dogs for each postcard received! Please come to the sites for more details.

Now, not only is it fun to make the postcards, you know that you’re feeding homeless dogs NUTRISH-ous food!

There is a Dogster group Pay It Forward,  that was started to pay love forward, one smile at a time. They have started a campaign to get the word out about the postcard fundraiser, and help raise tons of food.

Dogvice Spokesdog of the Month
The “Dogvice Spokesdog” for the “food raiser” campaign running from February 1st to April 24th, 2009, isn’t a celebrity dog, it’s over 6,000 celebrity dogs!

The PIF (Paw it Forward) group on Dogster.com is spearheading the campaign to raise 6,000 cards so that we can get 3 TONS of Nutrish food to homeless dogs.

Each week, a different individual dog from the group is going to be a celebrity Spokesdog on all of the 4 sites collecting cards (Dogfessions, Dogvice, Pugfessions/Pugvice, and Bullyvice/Bullyfessions).

P*I*F: Paw it Forward (a play on words of “paying it forward”) is a group of animal lovers on the website Dogster.com who have committed themselves to helping others one step at a time and asking that the favor be repaid by paying it forward.

The P*I*F pack is thankful that they can do their part in helping Dogvice.com in their FOOD raising effort to benefit homeless animals.

For every postcard that gets sent in,  Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and Sabbath Memorial Dog Rescue will receive one pound of Rachael Ray’s NUTRISH dog food!

C’mon Dogsters, have fun while helping out a good cause, we need your participation. Take time to make a card or two, maybe 20. Besides feeding the shelter dogs, your entries are also eligible to win prizes from the different sites.

*Postcard pic of Dogster member Schnooks, he’s famous. Pic of Gigi, group organizer of PIF.