pet food redux.

this is a follow-up to my post about pet food. the folks at old mother hubbard dog food company apparently don't want to be on peta's "do not test list." here's what they had to say on the matter:

consumers call us to ask why we are not on peta's do not test list.  old mother hubbard is not ready to jump on the peta.org bandwagon.  joining the list implies we support/endorse/agree with peta in general.....they are involved in so many aspects of animal rights that it would be too risky to just jump in without a fair amount of research into their claims.

so, i thought i'd forward that along to peta's research department to see what they thought. got their response today:

thank you for your email. pet foods do not have to pass feeding tests compliant with aafco standards before they can be sold in the u.s. and canada.

click on this link to view the survey and statement of assurance that we have asked companies to complete. under the survey section on the second page, you will see this option: "studies conducted at the home of companion animals whose guardians have agreed to participate in palpability tests." other acceptable means of conducting palatability tests are: animals that are temporarily housed at a boarding kennel whose guardians have agreed to have them participate in short term palpability tests and feeding trials with animals housed at shelters awaiting adoption. these are the testing standards that we want all companies to meet and are the only acceptable methods; the ideal no harm situation for animals.

old mother hubbard (wellness) is not included on our list because it has not assured us in writing that it conducts only humane (as described above) feeding trials. old mother hubbard informed us that it works with several contract labs in order to test its food: summit ridge, kennelwood, and ontario nutrilab. life for animals in laboratories is filled with days, weeks, months, or years of loneliness, suffering, pain, and fear. while a toy, a resting board, or a few minutes of "socialization" (if provided) might slightly ease the horrors of imprisonment, they do not make animal experimentation humane.

furthermore, the following dog and cat food companies, which manufacture many well-known brands, have not confirmed to us whether or not they conduct animal tests. we cannot recommend buying the products of these companies until we have received additional information about their practices.

• del monte (gravy train, reward, medi-cal, kibbles-n-bits, nature's recipe, cycle, skippy, techni-cal, 9 lives, medi-cal, meaty bone, jerky treats, snausages, pup-peroni, canine carry outs, wagwells, pounce)
  the landmark @ one market
  p.o. box 193575
  san francisco, ca 94119-3575
  800.543.3090 or 415.247.3000
  del monte web site
• heinz (reward, ivd [innovative vet diets], amore, wagwells, jerky treats, barbeque bites, chew chews, porky treats, beefy strips, petdeli crunchy tuna treats)
  p.o. box 57
  pittsburgh, pa 15230
  800.255.5750
  heinz web site
• hill's (science diet, prescription diet)
  p.o. box 148
  topeka, ks 66601
  800.445.5777
  hill's web site
• mars, inc. (kal kan, mealtime, pedigree, waltham, cesar, trill, aquarian, winergy, schmacko's, meaty bites, excelpet, pedigree, chum, brekkies, whiskas, kitekat, sheba)
  6885 elm st.
  mclean, va 22101
  800.443.1010 or 703.821.4900
  mars, inc. web site
• nestlé purina pet care (alpo, beneful, come 'n get it, dog chow, fit & trim, mighty dog, pro plan, puppy chow, hipro, kibbles and chunks, moist & meaty, purina one, purina veterinary diets, bonnie, beggin' strips, chew-rific, purina essentials, t bonz, secondnature, trusty, lucky dog, cat chow, chef's blend, deli-cat, fancy feast, friskies, kit 'n kaboodle, kitten chow, purina special care, tender vittles, meow mix, whisker lickin's, tidy cats, yesterday's news, go-cat, vital balance)
  checkerboard square
  st louis, mo 63164
  800.778.7462 or 314.982.1000
  nestlé purina pet care web site
• nutro products, inc. (nutro max, natural choice, max cat, gourmet classics, nutro max biscuits, natural choice biscuits)
  445 wilson way
  city of industry, ca 91744
  800.833.5330
  nutro products, inc. web site
• poulin grain (gold'n glow, kennel pride, pro-form, pro nature 22, purrfection)
  24 railroad square
  newport, vt 05855
  800.334.6731 or 800.638.3112
  poulin grain web site
• royal canin (natural blend, sensible choice, excel, wayne, kasco)
  5600 mexico road, suite 2
  st. peters, mo 63376
  800.592.6687 or 636.926.0003
  royal canin web site

click here for a list of companion animal food companies that do not test on animals.

for more information on our iams and menu foods undercover investigations, visit here or here. thank you for caring and all that you do for the animals.

sincerely,
caring consumer project
people for the ethical treatment of animals

i had no idea that so many "household name" pet foods do not meet peta's standards. that's it for our pounce treats. anyone know of any other peta-friendly treats (that cats actually enjoy)?

art credit: havana street