I disagree. All companies have the same means: FDA announcements, press releases, email, Facebook, Twitter, joining various alert systems. I don't see where a larger company would have an advantage in resources to get the word out.

Not really, IMO.

I mean, if you are feeding a particular brand of food, I think it'd be wise to be subscribed to their mailing list or whatever. And you'll get an e-mail right away. When Nature's Variety recalled something (I can't remember what it was) I got an e-mail the day that they recalled it.

The only thing that would benefit a big company is that they would probably be on the news, etc, but if you are a proactive dog owner already like most of here on YT are, I don't consider this a big deal. Most recalls from every company end up posted in the H&D section of this forum, or like I said, are e-mailed to us. You also have twitter, facebook, websites, google.

:thumbup:

Thanks, you posted first, hehe. Agree.

I agree with your added point that a larger company would be more likely to make it into the news. That might be the only advantage...but that would be the least effective way to reach a consumer like me, lol.

Larger companies may have more money to get the word out, but I'm not sure they would do that. If it's anything really major, it would be on the news anyway (and recalls.gov).

They do have more money to put into safety. Whether or not they spend it in the right places is up to pet owners to decide after talking to the company.

Simple as this for me. If I'm not convinced a company is doing any type of feeding trials (palatability alone doesn't count), hiring the right people to formulate recipes, do an adequate amount of QC testing, and has a willingness to answer questions, then their foods move down on my list.

If they do not let veterinary nutritionists tour and I find out about it, then they also move waaaay down on my list. And if they aren't furthering the study of canine nutrition, then why not? Do they ahve no interest in it? I like when they do some real research. Otherwise, the field stands still. As much as a lot of people on YT tend to hate the larger companies (and even the rx foods - and yes, it's obvious that many people hate them - I used to be one of them), their foods save lives. Whether or not people want to admit it, they sometimes save an animal from a lot of pain and suffering. They do not always work. Nothing always works. However, they are certainly better than nothing. This tells me that these companies are doing something right.

I sent an email to tons of companies a couple weeks ago and to this day a handful have not responded. Will be emailing them again to give the benefit of the doubt. However, this really concerns me. If they can't answer my questions, I'm not feeding their food. My puppies aren't guinea pigs, so we will try trusted products first. :) If we were talking about a small treat they got once a month or something, I wouldn't be nearly as concerned (but even then some companies are automatically out). But my dogs get the same food at least twice daily for months to years, so it is a big thing.

:thumbup::thumbup:

One time we opened a can of science diet and it had a dead mouse in it!!!! I will never ever feed science diet to my dogs. They have never eaten it and never will!!!!!!!!

Did you report this?

You are kidding me! Once I was at Wendy's and found a finger in my chilli :eek:

Was it yours?

Well maybe it wasn't a finger just a large piece of hamburger. :rolleyes:

Are you sure it wasn't a mouse? I've heard of mice making their way into bottles of coke and now of course a can of dog food. Therefore it is more than likely that what you saw in your chili at Wendy's was not a finger or a hamburger but a mouse. Did it have a tail?

Yes as a matter of fact it did! A very long tale :eek::eek:

I bet it was a fairy!

This has happended with just about every dog food out there, fish bones, unknown animal hair, bugs etc. It has also happened with people food, my father in law found a mouse in a bottle of french vanilla creamer, I have found glass in a can of soup. Resturants are actually ALLOWED a certain amount of critter feces and bugs its considered normal, Is it gross absoultlely..If it happened once would I stop buying the food..probably not, if it happended twice I probably wouldnt buy it agian. Mistakes happen...NO DOG FOOD COMPANY IS PERFECT!