Do They Really Use Dead Dogs and Cats to Make Pet Food?

Hi Sandy,

I posted that several months ago so maybe the page “moved” or something. Nonetheless, it’s still there. : ) Here you go: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/07/21/13-pet-foods-ranked-from-great-to-disastrous.aspx

Trust in the fact that you should never buy grocery-store dog foods regardless, for myriad reasons.

Have you seen the test dog at the Purina labs? If not YouTube has a video. Watch and you may wonder what the hell these dog food companies are putting in the food that need live animal testing. Along with the animals you mentioned are the drugs in their system. Deadly drugs all cooked down with the animal in to the goo.

That’s about the size of it.

Ugh!!! I think I just might go back to the way we fed our pets in the 1950′s….the same things we ate! But then, we can’t be sure what is in what we eat anymore either! We are all screwed!

There is a copy of that video here:

http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/the-worst-horror-of-pet-food-confirmed-in-spain

Soylent green

If you pet food has grains in it of any kind, there is a good possibility it uses a GMO grain, and it isn’t any better for human consumption either!!!

hello hello,

A big bowl of ground beef for every meal is seriously lacking in vital, essential nutrients. The egg you’re adding is an excellent addition, but my guess is that you’re not adding the shell. Please, do some research before you continue to feed your dog the diet that you are. You’re right, raw is great for dogs. However, raw MUST be properly balanced and if it’s not, it’s the WORST thing you could feed your dog.

Please, take time to check up these links: You MUST read this one and note # 13 on the list: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/07/21/13-pet-foods-ranked-from-great-to-disastrous.aspx; and this one will get you started on homemade raw, done right: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/menus/

I used to buy $60 dry dog food for my boxer mix every month but i changed to natural food and i only spend $20-30 worth of ground beef per month and feed her a big bowl of it everyday mixed with plain oatmeal, sometimes add one egg. she loves it!!! and i never seen her fur as shiny as before.  i think cooking for a dog saves money and makes dog healthier than the fake scary stuff they put in dog food!

Nobody mentions the vets or shelters that are selling these euthanized animals to the rendering plants.

This is really terrifying.

How do we tell if our food contains dead animals (pets or roadkill)? Are there certain ingredient names to cause suspicion?

 Oh and to get a grain free rubbish kibble food would cost me over £60 a month. It costs me under £35 per month if I get no freebies but with freebies costs me £20-25. You can’t get a better diet than natural. Cheaper frozen! I bought  large chest freezer I bulk but at around £100 a time and it lasts me just over 3months and thats a GSD on 1kg of meat and bone per day as shes a puppy!!

My supplier:

http://www.daf-petfood.co.uk/

Or just type DAF into google

FB:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rawfeedinguk/

How much to feed?

http://www.raw4dogs.com/calculate.htm

i have been cooking my dogs foods for 29  years now we have a 18 year old pom  tea is here name. i been feeding her and all my dogs real food and veges 2 time a day every day i have to say i dont see the vet offices other then shots and not many of them eather.
and all our dogs are helthy.
so if you can aford it please cook for your cats and dogs it dont take a lot of time .
cook ou hole chickens and add veges with it and freze it in small cantaners so you have a it all the time
i cook stake i get at walmart the yellow label if you get it and cook it in a day it is great and the dogs love it .
well please feed you pet real real food.
i have dislexa  so the spelling is not good .

I am at a loss for words- did the ‘mad cow’ syndrome not teach us anything?

There are plenty out there. Go grain free if you can. Of course everybody has a different opinion but Evo, Natures Variety, Orijen, Earthborn, and Taste of the Wild are a few. 

Hi DogGoneFedUp,

Wow. Thanks for sharing that interesting article. Makes me feel good about what we’re all doing here in this forum.

 Because protesting government agencies isn’t how capitalism works -if you, as a consumer, want terrible pet food off the market, then don’t buy it. Educate others NOT to buy it. When it stops selling, then it ceases to be produced for the marketplace. Since this is a petfood website, I’ll only comment on animal feed in this particular case, as human food is another can of hopefully not FDA-approved worms. Legally, pets are property. You and I may not agree that’s right, but that’s what reality is at the moment. Because of this, regulations on animal feed is minimal and *most* (not all, but most) pet food manufacturers only care about meeting AAFCO and other legal minimums, like labeling. (Of course, that’s hardly much for them to abide by, but I digress.)

I personally do NOT believe that dead pets are being put into pet food. That video is interesting and something to consider, but I do not see workers scraping off the meat and throwing it into vats of Dog Chow.

COULD that be happening? Maybe. That’s why I avoid poor quality foods, or I just make my pet’s food myself.

We have the right to protest government policy. Picketing the FDA is far more effective than picketing, say, Purina, because unless their sales drop, Purina couldn’t care less what you think.

KARMA

your a fucking backward nob.

Rendered euthanized pet are used in soap products like Irish Spring!  Check it out.  

I suggest that you all write letters to the editor  on this   via aauw.org.

Oh, yeah, grain free is mandatory for cats. Their kidneys are harmed by grain. Check out Dr. Becker’s articals on Mercola.com/healthy pets/

Janine if you have a Tractor Supply near by they carry a food called 4Health that I was feeding my cats. It is about $7 per 6lb bag but the ingredients are good. I have since switched both my cats to Taste of the Wild which is about $12 per 6lb bag. They did good on both brands but the Taste of the Wild is grain free and has more meat. 4Health is only available at Tractor Supply but more places carry Taste of the Wild. Good luck!

O.k. I couldn’t find the same one I saw last year, but I’ve watched enough horrible graphic videos about euthanized pets in dogfood that I’m literally shaking… I looked for ones posted 2009 or later, as current references. I finally found a related one that presents a broader picture of the problem. It can be found on YouTube, under The Mad Cowboy (parts 1-6). He did a lot of research and included this statement in his summary,

“Rendering is a $2.4 billion-a-year industry, processing forty billion pounds of dead animals a year. There is simply no such thing in America as an animal too ravaged by disease, too cancerous, or too putrid to be welcomed by the all-embracing arms of the renderer. Another staple of the renderers diet, in addition to farm animals, is euthanized pets – the six or seven million dogs and cats that are killed in animal shelters every year. The city of Los Angeles alone, for example, sends some two hundred tons of euthanized cats and dogs to a rendering plant every month. Added to the blend are the euthanized catch of animal control agencies, and road kill. (Road kill is not collected daily, and in the summer, the better road kill collection crews can generally smell it before they can see it.) When this gruesome mix is ground and steam-cooked, the lighter, fatty material floating to the top gets refined for use in such products as cosmetics, lubricants, soaps, candles, and waxes. The heavier protein material is dried and pulverized into a brown powder-about a quarter of which consists of fecal material. The power is used as an additive to almost all pet food as well as to livestock feed. Farmers call it protein concentrates. In 1995, five million tons of processed slaughterhouse leftovers were sold for animal feed in the United States. ”

This duplicates the information in many of the other documentaries and reports, just not so horrible to look at, so far. The thing of note that kept coming up over and over was that the FDA allowed diseased, dead, decaying pustulent, putrid and cancerous animals in rendered products. Many of the reports stated that the FDA allowed the collars and tags (Foods Pets Die For, by Ann Martin) and one of the videos was of a news interview with Ms. Martin where she stated a top ranking FDA official told her that. Eeuw! I’ve had enough. Can’t look anymore. Shudder!

Mike – What would you expect companies and cities to say? It’s all the same once rendered? Its just animal grade used to keep the price of pet foods less expensive? We believe in recycling whenever possible? Its not for human consumption – just pets? If you are concerned then make sure the pet food mfgs. do not used rendered products in the products you purchase?

Yes, I agree pentobarbital is present in many lower end pet food. No doubts there. Yes, it is disgusting. D:

However, pentobarbital != cats or dogs.

I simply started looking at pet food recipes for a treat for my dog- not wanting to get her fat. The more I looked into homemade dog food- and researched dog food companies, I am appauled, disgusted, disturbed, and upset that dog food companies can even think of using “Fluffy” (or other helpless critters) to feed my dog! My dog has been raised with cats and loves to play with cats! She would never think of eating one! And yet- there is a great possibility that she is! It makes me sick!

Here it is “cattle or sheep or horse – or Fluffy”. What I don’t know is if this video clip is legit? Looks like it is but…?
http://bullmarketfrogs.com/blog/2010/08/aafco-admits-rendered-pets-in-pet-food/

I’m not sure about the “20 years” Marie mentions. But, I did read the article regarding cat, dog and horse DNA that she is citing. IMO however, it doesn’t matter what species the pento comes from —- it’s still in the food and still just as dangerous imo (and that of other government agencies not protecting corporate interests )..

“A test, derived to determine source of pentobarbital in pet food, is so sensitive it can identify the species of origin for animal products on a scale of 7 lbs. per 500 tons. Tests find no cat or dog DNA in pet food.” http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/FDAVeterinarianNewsletter/ucm093929.htm

Marie – Can you provide something to backup your statement? Perhaps a FDA report or website? How about horses? Lab animals, Zoo animals etc……. What DNA do they find?

Why does the FDA keep testing for 20 years if there isn’t a problem?

Hi Rodney,

I’m not going to get in the whole debate of using pets to feed other pets. I do however want to comment on one aspect of this article – “euthanized” animals.

Here’s what the US Fish and Wildlife has to say about feeding animals (including livestock) pentobarbitol tainted ingredients.

Rendering is not an acceptable way to dispose of a pentobarbital-tainted carcass. The drug residues are not destroyed in the rendering process, so the tissues and by-products may contain poison and must not be used for animal feed….

All pentobarbital-euthanized carcasses should be prominently tagged with one or more highly-visible “POISON” warning labels. Bagged animals should have a label affixed to the carcass itself and also attached to the outside of the bag.” http://cpharm.vetmed.vt.edu/USFWS/USFWSFPentobarbFactSheet.pdf

Some people have decided that slowly poisoning their pets is probably not a financially wise (if they see a vet when their pet is ill) way to go.

Hi Rodney. So tiny dogs are not real dogs in your world ? That’s interesting Rodney. I’m glad to hear you at least let your real dogs in the trailor . Real good old boys like you usually keep em tied up outside. Isn’t your Min Pin a little on the tiny side. Oh but he kills Coons and Rodents so he’s cool. What exactly do you feed? Do you actually buy food or do you throw road kill in the back of your truck? You never mentioned to us freaks what you feed. Please let us know…

Who cares, their dead. They are gunna feed the worms and maggots anyway. Why not use them to nourish another pet that is currently in loving care in a home? You hardcore pet freaks are so illogical. It’s an animal not a freaking person. If you don’t believe me, message me in 12 years and let me know how Fido or Steven or w/e is doing.

To ERICS Comment bout dogs being wolves????? What the Hell? My four legged children are not wolves!!!! they are part of the family! you are quit stupid! and dont need any! keep your comments to yourself! Go Eat your OWN SELF!

After finding about all this recently, I no longer will feed my dog the wet food I have been using to mix with her dry food (Nutro Holistic senior formula). I was originally mixing it with Cesar and I know that is a bad brand that has mysterious meats.

I am just changing her diet altogether. I am now putting her on the small breed senior Blue Buffalo dry food and will mix it with various canned food by Blue Buffalo.

I find this whole thing sick. It’s like feeding your children fetuses. I know my cannot fathom or understand but I don’t think she’d like it if she had morals. I love her too much to feed her that crap.

I have a big mixed – breed dog. He’s very strong and healthy. He does chase cats and other dogs though. He woofs down his food . He’s fine with wal-mart’s OL’ROY kibbles. Never never been sick and is 11 yrs old.He’s proof that all the hype doesn’t concern the final result. I live on ssi an buy 40 lbs of it a month. But I must admit, though he’s killed things before and eats them. Maybe for extra protein. Neighbors don’t like my dog and annoyed because of 11 years putting up with him .Pit bulls are still legal in Oregon.

My German Shepherd mix (95 lbs) had surgery recently and went off his normal food completely. I believe the anesthesia affected his taste buds (as it has mine every time I’ve had surgery). Anyhow I began trying a variety of canned food, different dry foods that the pet store let me get samples of…nothing worked. I was afraid he was going to stave to death and then he started with diarrhea and vomiting the tiny amount he was eating. So we then had to fast him for a day and then start him on brown rice and ground chicken. Very small amounts at first and then increasing as he was able. I began to mix in small amounts of his normal dry and he literally would allow it to fall out of his mouth as he ate the chicken and rice. I began reading about the different ingredients allowed in dog food and was flabbergasted! I wondered if possibly my poochie had been doing some internet research when I wasn’t around! LOL! So I went and bought a bag of more expensive dog food with what I felt was really good ingredients. (no corn, no “meat meal”, etc.). He wouldn’t touch it by itself, but I thought maybe it’s just because he’s now spoiled with my homemade dog food, so I read how to make healthy homemade dog food. I experimented by adding veggies, blueberries, sweet potatoes, etc. I learned texture made a big difference so to get him to eat certain things, I just had to cook them a little more tender or blend them (like the blueberries for instance). OK, very long story short…it’s over a month later and he still will not touch dry dog food when served alone, but when I mix it with my homemade version, he eats it just fine. Someone asked me how expensive it is to make, and I figured it out and it’s really not that bad. Plus, it’s not too time-consuming either. I make a huge batch at a time (about once every week or two, however, I’m getting to where I can cook a months worth at a time now), I allow it to cool and then place it in gallon Ziploc baggies, date it, and put what will be used within a week in the fridge and the rest in the freezer. When I mix it with his higher grade dog food (Diamond natural beef and rice), he eats it very well. He’s finally gotten to where he’ll eat it well when I mix it about 1/2 and 1/2. Surprisingly, it costs about the same as if I was feeding him the dry only plus I get the joy of making something my best friend really enjoys, not just tolerates. It’s especially cost effective when you buy the brown rice in the larger bags. I don’t mean “quick rice.” I’m talking the stuff that takes an hour to cook. The good thing is, you can add the other ingredients and allow it to all cook together. That way the flavors meld together and he really seems to enjoy it more. I have experimented with additional vegetables and have him do “taste tests” and really seem to have perfected what he likes. Who knows? I may even find a market for this gourmet dog food locally.
I feel so much better knowing that no “rendered” ingredients are ending up in my pals food and in turn are not in his body. I read somewhere that dogs fed a diet of standard dog food that has corn as a main ingredient have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years less than those that consume a diet that is designed for…well…a dog!

Except, that’s not really what the choice is. It’s like saying it’s okay if kids are fed food from a dumpster as long as they’re fed. There has to be a decent minimum standard of food quality. If people who can’t afford to take proper care of their pets don’t have them, then the pet population will naturally drop. People who pay for good dog food, vet bills, etc… generally aren’t the same people doing irresponsible breeding and such of the like. I’m not saying pets that are already alive should be euthanized, I’m saying owners and companies should be responsible and moral instead of selfish and greedy.

Good pet food isn’t even all that expensive. There’s maybe a $5 difference between a bag of good dog food and crap like Purina. Solid Gold Wee Bits is $10 a bag.

My main point though is that these companies are crooked. They claim they’re providing a healthy formula, knowing the average person doesn’t read ingredient lists or understand them even if they did. They stick in stuff that’s the nutritional equivalent of toxic waste. Cancerous livestock, euthanized pets, floor sweepings, etc… An owner thinks they’re buying good healthy food, when they’re unknowingly killing their pet. These pet food brands profit on pain.

Totally evil.

Misty I hear ya and feel where your coming from . I made a almost the same comment on people affording or not affording pets . Jonathan slammed me and made me really think about it . Yes it would be wonderful if every pet owner fed top foods . Really though , isn’t better that dogs are being loved and being able to live by people who can’t afford good food and do the best they can on what they have ? Sorry to say I would rather see a dog live than be put down because some people can only spend a few bucks on food .

Given the fact that the pet food industry does sometimes use euthanized pets in their products, you should look beyond and consider why such practices are in place… why shelters knowingly allow their euthanized animals to be rendered.

In many cases, these animals will be picked up & disposed of for FREE by rendering companies. Yes, they could simply cremate every animal they get but guess what — this costs money (operating the furnaces +/- labor costs). I personally opted to have every single one of my pets cremated & had their ashes returned to me. This may not be an issue either in smaller shelters which has a small coverage area, but how about in large cities & metros which may have to dispose of thousands of unwanted animals every year?

I’m sure you won’t disagree that budgets are probably already running thin to support our local shelters. What other alternatives are available? dumping their dead bodies to further fill our local landfills?

You don’t like the aspects of “recycling”, but what other cost effective way to deal with carcasses (not just of these pets, but also of the cattle, roadkill, etc). If everyone insists on feeding animals pure foods not derived from intentionally killed for food animals, then not only would it drive prices up and make owning pets unfeasible for a larger portion of the population but we would also be promoting the killing of more animals to support our + our pet’s carnivorous needs.

In the UK on pet food cans it states a percentage of meat but also lists animal derivatives. I know of a rendering plant and the lorries go to vets picking up the animals that were pts!! Its vile! We are making our pets cannibals!

FDA-Skeptic wrote “Of course, the FDA claims phenobarb in pet food is at a non-harmful level, in spite of the mysterious resistance to the chemical found by field veterinarians in pets. That is why you can’t always trust ‘the experts”

I agree completely with FDA-Skeptic (except it’s pentobarbiotal not phenobarb (an anti-seizure med). The US Fish and Wildlife have this to say about rendering animals (ANY animal not just pets).

“Rendering is not an acceptable way to dispose of a pentobarbital-tainted carcass. The drug residues are not destroyed in the rendering process, so the tissues and by-products may contain poison and must not be used for animal feed….

All pentobarbital-euthanized carcasses should be prominently tagged with one or more highly-visible “POISON” warning labels. Bagged animals should have a label affixed to the carcass itself and also attached to the outside of the bag.” http://cpharm.vetmed.vt.edu/USFWS/USFWSFPentobarbFactSheet.pdf

I dont want my puppy-Nixie-eating dead dog or cat etc., what are some healthy options of food for dogs that is not store bought yet,acceptable.

I can’t watch this video.

As it is, everytime I see the word “animal” in pet food ingredients I shudder and throw the bag down like I might get coodies or something.

Eric – dogs are not wolves… dogs are domestic animals that evolved from wolves. Wolves in the wild do not eat the same food with the same ingredients day in and day out for their entire lives. Wolves may occasionally scavange some less than ideal meals, but they are generally not consuming traces of pesticides, chemicals and pharmacuticals every single day as alot of our pets unknowingly are. Our companion dogs trustingly eat whatever food we feed them. And don’t confuse “sick and injured” wild animals with “diseased and dying” livestock and/or other domestic animals, I can assure you they are very different.. and they make what wolves eat very different from commercial pet foods.

something really needs to be done about this issue. more research needs to be done to find out whats really going on. how would people like it if restaurants starting adding “old lady” or “cancer victim” to the menu? would something be done about that? i think so. let’s put some of these pet food companies out of buisness for good!!!

Mike, I’ve been your friend and patient for about forty years and I just discovered your website! Thank you for the research! Many years ago, I poured out a bag of a mid-priced, heavily advertised kibble and found a torn blue nylon strap. At the time, I assumed it might have come from some of the processing equipment but years later, I realized that it may have been part of a collar. I think the pet food industry (and the meat industry in general) has a lot of dark secrets they don’t advertise.

How sad….for our live pets and especially sad for those that are euthanized because of lack of homes. People really need to be educated. I have always tried to read ingredients and be careful with what pet food I purchase; but after reading this, will be more proactive. Actually, the whole scenario is quite disgusting. Have bought Science Diet for years thinking it was “the best”, but now they’re on the list too! AAUGGHH!!!!!!!!!