Dogma Catmantoo

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DogmaCatmantoo Summer Hours Updated June 21, 2:34 PM

We are now open Sundays Noon to 4 PM. Our hours are otherwise unchanged.

Hours

M-W, F - 10-6
Thurs - 10-7 - Yappy Hour 5-7
Sat - 9-5
Sun - 12-4

Pet Food Recall Updated December 19, 10:31 AM

The pet food recall story continues to unfold; new types and brands of food added with alarming frequency. While some contaminants have been identified, the cause of the problem remains uncertain. The only clear thing is that we are not yet at the bottom of this. Conscientious pet owners are understandably concerned and have raised a number of questions regarding pet food:

What is actually in it?
Who sets standards and regulates the industry?
How can I tell what food is good for my pet?

Commercial pet food is a multi-billion dollar industry, dominated by huge multinationals, including Proctor & Gamble (Iams, Eukanuba), Nestle (Purina, Alpo) and Del Monte (9 Lives, Meow Mix). These consumer products companies are far better known for marketing savvy than for their research in animal nutrition or food manufacturing. As demonstrated by the breadth of the recall, manufacture is frequently outsourced to a limited number of companies. The canned pet food segment is particularly concentrated; plants owned by Menu Foods produce the vast majority of all canned pet food in this country. Merrick Pet Foods has their own cannery, and for that reason, we now carry a lot more flavors of Merrick canned dog and cat food.

It goes without saying that pet food should not be contaminated with toxins, but shouldn't we want our pets to eat foods that help them thrive, and not merely survive? Regulation of the pet food industry is supervised by the Food and Drug Administration, but there are no requirements that products or the majority of ingredients be approved. The FDA's role is principally reactive. On a practical basis, "oversight" comes from a voluntary organization, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). However, you should not feel reassured by label claims that a "product is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles." Their performance standards (survival of most study participants) are shockingly low, and do not begin to address good nutrition or health.

What should you feed your pet? You can prepare the food yourself, either a cooked or raw food diet. Since most people don't have the time or inclination to do this, there are fortunately now a number of healthy, high quality commercial foods available.

All pet foods are not created equal. You can be pretty sure a cheap food will contain poor quality ingredients, but you can't be sure that more expensive foods have quality ingredients. And as the recall clearly illustrates, some brands generally regarded as "Premium" or "Natural" are anything but. There are absolutely no labeling standards or requirements regarding use of these terms. Healthy-sounding names or pictures of fruits and vegetables on the package reflect marketing ore than nutrition. We have a number of examples in the store so you can see for yourself.

Reading the label is the first step in choosing your pet's food . . .

• Look for superior sources of protein, including single source meat or meat meal. If you see "poultry" as opposed to "chicken" or "turkey" this should be a red flag that the product comes from a rendering plant, where animals unfit for human consumption (diseased, contaminated meat, road kill, etc) are processed.
• "By-products" on the label is another red flag. By products can include feathers, beaks, hair, hide and other poorly digestible proteins.

You'll probably find that the best foods come from companies you've never heard of, and you're unlikely to find then in grocery stores. After you find a brand you like, look into the company. Check their web sites or give them a call. Talk to your friends. Read the Whole Dog Journal. Check out the links in our web site.

Some final "food for thought" regarding pet diets: If someone told you to eat, or to feed your family, the same thing, every meal, every day, and this complete meal was in the form of dry chunks, you'd think they were nuts! We give our animals "pet food" for our convenience, not for our pets' benefit. Variety is g

New Website Updated October 5, 4:04 PM

DogmaCatmantoo has a new website! We hope you enjoy the new design, and check back often for frequent updates!

Also, keep an eye out for our online store, which will be coming soon!