Pet food: what you don't know can be harmful

A Poll commissioned by the Wellness® brand of natural pet food found that not enough pet owners know or understand the ingredients on pet food labels.

“Of 1,305 U.S. adult dog and/or cat owners, two-thirds say they feed their dog(s)/cat(s) as if they are members of the family. But their actions don’t always support the claim. 56 percent say they always read the label on their own packaged foods (e.g. pasta, pre-packaged or frozen meals), but only 20 percent of dog owners and 19 percent of cat owners say they always read the labels on their pets’ food. Just 38 percent say they understand all the ingredients listed on their dog/cat food labels. “
The survey was conducted in August by Harris Interactive® and commissioned by the Wellness® brand of natural food and treats for pets.


And then there is this:

http://www.9news.com/news/world/article.aspx?storyid=102207
BEIJING (AP) - A Chinese veterinarian says some 1,500 dogs have died after eating feed tainted with melamine. That's the same industrial chemical that's contaminated dairy products and sickened tens of thousands of babies across China.
The veterinarian says all the dogs died on farms in one village. The animals are a breed known as raccoon dogs. They're raised for their fur, which is used to make trim on coats and other clothing.
The veterinarian says he examined about a dozen dogs and determined that they died of kidney failure. He says melamine was found in the feed and about 25 percent of the stones found in the dogs' kidneys were made of melamine.
In the milk scandal, the chemical was said to have been added to the watered-down milk to make it appear higher in protein. It can cause kidney stones and eventually kidney failure in humans too.
Monday's news about the dogs is raising questions about the extent of the chemical's presence in China's food chain.
(Copyright Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.)

Add to that the odious fact that these dogs were being raised for their fur on these farms and it all makes up a very sad triumvirate.