Go Green With Your Pets

If living “green” is better for people, then it can also be good for our pets. Recent pet food recalls demonstrate the importance of choosing safe and high-quality products for our four-legged friends. While green pet ownership may require strategic shopping and possibly higher costs compared to traditional brands, the benefits can mean a longer relationship with your pet. Locally-owned pet supply stores like Prairie Dog Pet Mercantile and Urban Canine specialize in providing natural dog and cat foods. Even national chain pet stores now are adding natural and organic sections. “Natural ingredients are more important and more easily accessible than certified organic ingredients,” says Don Cutler, who owns Prairie Dog Mercantile with his wife, Cyndi. The South Hill shop doesn’t stock foods that contain soy, wheat or corn, because over time, Cutler said dogs have developed allergies to these products. They once had a chocolate Lab with a lot of allergies. They tried various treatments, which Cutler describes as “maintenance” rather than solving the problem. “Then someone suggested, ‘change the food’ and it worked,” he says. “Within three weeks she was a new dog, and we became converts [to natural food].” For pets with food allergies, one protein and one carbohydrate source, like herring and sweet potato, can be the foundations of a natural food alternative. Vitamins and minerals are added to eliminate other possible allergic reactions. Deborah Olmsted, owner of Urban Canine, which has locations on the South Hill and Newport Highway, said some pet owners may think they can’t afford natural food. She likes to counter this by saying “they can’t afford not to buy it with the cost of veterinary care today.” Natural pet food can be a cost-effective solution, she said, whether the intent is to generally keep up a pet’s health, reduce the risk of diet-related diseases or prevent allergies. Higher quality ingredients can increase the cost of natural pet foods. Natural dog or cat food contains actual meat or high-quality meat meal – pulverized, dehydrated meat, such as chicken or beef – instead of meat by-products. Fresh fruit and vegetables are also ingredients, and there is no added salt and sugar. Cutler said common ingredients in traditional, lower-quality foods, are corn and wheat, which are both cheaper to produce. “What we tell people is [to consider], do you want your dog eating something you wouldn’t eat?” he says. “Read the label – just like human food.” Besides allergies, other common dietary consequences include digestive, yeast and ear problems. A natural pet food diet typically prevents these, in addition to providing other benefits, such as a shinier coat, less shedding and reduced dander. “We can tell right away when a dog comes in and is being fed low-quality food,” Cutler said. A surprising cost benefit of more natural food is that dogs or cats will actually consume less food. The daily food requirement is about half of a conventional brand. Other bonuses include cleaner teeth, fresher breath, and more compact waste. More parts of the food are processed instead of being eliminated. Choosing natural pet food also means a less-intensive manufacturing process, which typically takes place in the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. As in human foods, the more nutrients are preserved when the cooking temperature is kept lower. More controlled sourcing of raw ingredients is another key characteristic. For example, Champion Pet Foods in Canada, which makes the Orijen and Acana brands, only uses wild-caught fish, instead of farmed fish, and other ingredients that have never been frozen. According to Cutler, if the dry food is not manufactured in a company’s own plant, it is carefully outsourced with strict quality control measures. For example, Natural Balance controls the quality of food manufactured for it by Missouri-based Diamond Pet Foods. “You can even take the lot number off [a Natural Balance] bag and go online to check the quality report,” he says. Another locally-produced provider of pet treats is Libby’s Best Dog Bakery. Based in Post Falls, Idaho, it’s one of the few 100 percent USDA certified organic pet food providers nationwide. Owner Marcia Irvin said obtaining the certification required several months of paperwork, but was worth it. Her products can be found not just at regional pet shops but places like Spokane’s Main Market and Anenome, both in Spokane. So even if you’re convinced of the need to change your pet’s diet, where do you start? Olmsted from Urban Canine says customers should keep in mind that some “name brands are jumping on board with new packaging that offers new appeal to the ‘green’ customer’” without necessarily providing a reputable product. Although there is the Association of American Feed Control Officials, a trade group that sets guidelines for pet food, Cutler says its standards are so low that “people shouldn’t take that to mean anything.” In regards to organic and natural pet treats, the same recommendations apply as for human foods: check labels to learn the source of ingredients, and avoid lower-quality items made with corn, meat by-products, plus added sugar and salt. With so many green, sustainable pet food alternatives – and because his or her furry face looks at you with trust and love – it’s hard not to give them a try. Certified Organic Pet Food – What It Really Means Being certified organic under the USDA’s National Organic Program takes pet food safety to a whole new level, said Shelley Gunton, co-founder and president of Castor & Pollux Pet Works, which makes the ORGANIX and Natural Ultramix lines of food and treats. “Unlike pet foods that are labeled natural, holistic or even human-grade, only certified organic pet foods and treats are regulated by independent, third-party agencies that are charged with policing the program,” she said. “From the very rigorous documentation requirements to the cleaning regimen in the certified organic production facility through to the review and approval of every ingredient…, the USDA’s National Organic Program truly has teeth.” Gunton recommends checking a product’s packaging for a statement that says something like ‘Certified Organic by Organic Crop Improvement Association’ followed by complete address and contact information. “Just because a product includes organic ingredients does not mean it is certified organic; it must bear the ‘certified organic by’ information,” she said. “If a minimum of 95 percent of ingredients are certified organic, a product can bear the USDA’s organic logo. If 70 percent to 94 percent of ingredients are certified organic, the product will not feature the USDA’s organic logo but will include the ‘certified organic by’ statement on the back of the package.”