The point of this thread wasn't really about "holistic or natural".
The point is this: with awareness, we can make choices; choices that might empower those interested in avoiding certain stages of animal testing. Or, avoiding certain *types* of animal testing (such as what Iams was busted performing years back). If a person is more comfortable *with* extensive animal testing - then they should make their choice accordingly.
There are ingredients which are GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for humans and animals - and these ingredients don't need to be eternally tested. Yes, part of the GRAS process *may* have involved animal testing at some point - but how thankful we should be that we now have GRAS determinations that may prevent unnecessary animal testing.
What it seems to boil down to for the pet food companies is that they fall into a few various categories:
1) Arcane, caged testing - not focused on quality of life of the animals tested
2) No feeding trials at all; but may be using ingredients tested on animals or previously tested on animals (but now GRAS)
3) No feeding trials at all and all ingredients sourced cruelty free (not sure this is actually possible)
4) Feeding trials performed, but with all efforts toward non-caged, enhanced QOL for the animals tested, who are then adopted
For me, I choose to avoid #1 entirely, if I can. And I don't see anything wrong with that choice. What surprises me during threads like this, though, are some of the responses toward just the
effort to seek awareness in this matter. I don't understand why there is resistance toward finding out more about animal testing in the Pet Food industry.
*IF* animal testing in this industry can be decreased or even avoided entirely sometimes, how is that not a good thing for animals? Why the resistance?
It makes me think this subject is triggering emotions that might actually be about something else entirely
. Hey, I too am guilty of transference at times...so I can understand how that happens. Anyway, I'm enjoying this thread and think it's been informative on all sides and I appreciate all of the varying opinions - it's generated a lot of thought for me, so thanks to all who jumped into the frying pan with me.
