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The List
- 12-1-2011
- Categorized in: Pet Food News
For the very first time...
I will answer the #1 question I'm asked...
What pet foods do I trust and would feed to my own pets without hesitation?
So what is The List?
The List is my response to the number one question I receive...my list of pet foods that I trust and would feed to my own pets without hesitation. This is a first!
Why did you name names now?
It is very simple. The List is to raise necessary funding for advocacy work; the work to clean up pet food. We are up against multi-billion dollar a year industries with deep pockets. We are up against regulatory agencies that don't care about our pets. To bring more awareness of the current sad state of the pet food industry, we need to be represented at the next AAFCO meeting in January (and every AAFCO meeting thereafter). We need to present the 'truth about pet food' to veterinary students all across the country. And we need to present the truth in seminars to more pet owners across the country.
This cannot be done without funding; it is just that simple. A lot needs to be accomplished and I need your help to get it done!
Why is The List different than any other list of pet food recommendations?
When you do what I do (eat, breathe, and sleep pet food)…for as long as I have…you learn ‘things’. I've been blessed to have been befriended by the smartest scientists in the business, the sharpest veterinarians, pet food insiders (employees and management) and thousands of smart pet owners. A lot of these 'things' I know, learned from these fabulous people and information I've stumbled across on my own, can't be reported publically (lawsuits - and yes I've been threatened). But needless to say, these 'things' have influenced me (and influenced The List).
I disagree with most lists of pet food recommendations out there; mostly because of those 'things' I know. You might wonder why wasn't 'this' pet food included or why 'that' pet food was left out. The reasons...
1) I might know something about that particular pet food that others do not;
2) A pet food could have shown me or my Secret Shoppers they don't really care about customers (including lying and very misleading responses);
3) Or I just don't know of the pet food yet (or well enough to trust to feed to my own pets).
Did pet food companies pay to be on The List?
No way, no how! The choices of pet foods on The List - foods that I would give to my own pets - are based on what I know. I assure you that no pet food company ever has or ever will 'buy' a good write up/review from me. Pet food killed a dog of mine; there is no way any of them could buy me.
What kind of pet foods are on The List?
Most of these pet food companies are smaller companies, and most of them have national distribution; some have limited distribution at the present time. None of these pet foods are cheap - so don't be surprised at the price. Good food isn't cheap. If you are looking for a list of cheap pet foods, I don't have it (and this definitely isn't for you). The List includes choices for all feeding preferences...kibble, can, raw, and fresh frozen.
There are just a couple on The List that have international distribution (Canada included); however most have U.S. only distribution. Sorry to my international followers.
How is The List presented? Do I download it?
The List is in pdf format (so you will need a pdf reader installed on your computer) and it is downloaded to your computer.
How much does The List cost?
Because The List was prepared as a fund raiser for pet food safety advocacy work and because I know times are tough, I'm giving you options for price. $5, $10, $20, $25, and $50. If you can afford $50, wonderful - thank you. If you can only afford $5 - that is wonderful too! The price is up to you; I thank you for any amount you can afford.
Can I share The List with other Pet Owners?
No. The List was developed to raise funding for 2012 advocacy work. I cannot get to regulatory meetings, vet school campuses, even continue running this website without funding - without your support. The List is copyright protected; without expressed written consent from myself (Susan Thixton) no part of The List can be emailed, copied, quoted, printed (except for personal use), or altered.
But, you can purchase a gift certificate of The List for a friend (or two, or three). The perfect pet lovers Christmas Gift!
Ok...so I can't tell you who's on the Naughty List (and why), but I can tell you who's been good.
As of 12/1/11, these recommendations are based on the very latest information I have. The bad news is that this list is no guarantee. I cannot guarantee anyone these pet foods won’t be recalled tomorrow and this is no guarantee the manufacturer won’t change the entire formula tomorrow. I seriously doubt either will happen (or I wouldn’t consider feeding the food to my own pets), but in this industry you have to be realistic. Things can change in an instant.
What I based my choices on...(not in any particular order - all of these issues are significant)...
1. Quality of ingredients.
Not just quality ingredient, such as choice meats and vegetables, but the actual grade of those quality ingredients. And the pet food being open to provide evidence of quality ingredients.
2. Transparency/Customer Service.
To me, it wouldn't matter if a pet food used the choicest selection of ingredients if they don't respond to customers or potential customers openly and the first time asked. When a pet food company avoids a question with one of those blah, blah, blah responses, it shows me something significant.
3. Those 'things' I know.
Enough said.
4. Integrity.
Quality of ingredients and openness with customers fall into the integrity category, but to me, integrity is more than that. Integrity shines through when times are tough. Anyone can make a mistake, how you handle the mistake shows your integrity.
The 2012 Truth about Pet Food Best Pet Food Report arrives to you in pdf format. Once the order process is complete, you will be provided with a download link.
NOTE to Cat Owners: There are more dog foods included in The List than cat foods. Sorry - nothing I can do about that; there just happens to be more high quality dog foods than cat foods.
NOTE to Anyone Expecting the pet foods on The List to be cheap: Nope, sorry - none of these foods are cheap. If you are looking for cheap pet foods, The List is not for you.
That said, if you want to know my list of best pet foods, and help the advocacy work of this website continue...click on the appropriate link below. Choose your gift to forward the TAPF advocacy work in 2012 AND receive The List...
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The List $5.00 |
The List $10.00 |
The List $20.00 |
The List $25.00 |
The List |
Thank you to all that purchase The List and help with the important work to improve pet food safety and awareness. Here's hoping 2012 will be a great year in the effort to make pet food safer for all.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com
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ng risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the 'rest of the story' on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.
www.PetsumerReport.com
The List
The List of pet foods that Susan wouldn't hesitate to feed to her own pets!
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Hi Susan, I run a groomers forum in the UK. would it be ok for me to copy the main text from this page and post with a link back here, to my forum so the forum members could read it & then click to come here & donate /get the list for their own use?
TIA
Jen
Yes! definately. Thank you so much for your help!
Susan
You better watch your butt
You better not sue
Better not lie
I'm telling you why
Santa Paws is coming to town
She's making a List
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's sleazy and who's been truthfull
Santa Paws is coming to town
She sees you when you're screwing up
She knows when you're on the ball
She knows if you've been making bad pet food or being a crook
So be on your toes for goodness sake!
O! You better watch your butt!
You better not sue
Better not lie
I'm telling you why
Santa Paws is coming to town
Santa Paws is coming to town
Susan,
Is there a way to pay without google checkout?
Thanks.
Hi, Susan.
I would also like not to use google checkout (I prefer paypal). Thanks.
Hi Susan,
Will you be making your list available to people already paying for petsumer reports?
Thanks :)
Elizabeth
Hello Susan,
Sorry, I don't mean to be a spoil-sport, but as others have alluded to, I do not use/trust Google or PayPal so is there any potential for a possibly less transparent credit card option? Or, what about the honor system to view first then provide a payment by USPS? While we who follow your tencious investigations and greatly appreciate all you do with the stalwart advocacy for our precious pets [by extension, all animals] it is somewhat troublesome to know how you think 'they' are monitoring you and by online affiliation, what if this could include us, due to your request for a fee-donation for less public information. I mean, during these politically precarious times with increasing domestic surveillance, it is even though your excellent info will continue to be read...that I am not so sure how safe it is for your readership who might, by default, end up in a similar snare or via the authorities List. More than ever in the history of this country, we must be as discerning as is possible on every front, including the Internet. That being said, I sincerely wish it wasn't so since I have already [joined TAPF long ago] felt it a distinct privilge to support your valiant work. Keep up the good fight, and thank you so much.
i agree totally....i do not trust google, have used paypal w/ no problems in the past. i believe the internet is no longer safe, govt is not trustworthy getting more invasive every day every way.
I would also prefer PayPal, Google check out only accepts credit cards - which I hate.
There is a link for Paypal right under the link for Google when you add item to your cart.
I just found your website today. And, like so many others around the world, I care about what my babies eat. I look at ingredients, which takes much longer, but well worth the time. That said, I agree with the masses when I say I DO NOT trust supplying my payment information online. Having just had my debit information hacked 2 weeks ago, I am a tad skeptical. If there is another way to obtain your wealth of information, I will gladly pay for it. I look forward to a resolution soon.
thanks for everything you do!!!
Christie
2 years ago we almost lost 2 cats due to Nutro Max dry cat food, made by Mars International. They were totally irresponsible, lied & would not even test the food. I documented extensively on consumeraffairs.com.
After spending over $2000, we were some of the lucky pet owners, whose pets survived Nutro Max production issues! I had no idea -at that time- that a formerly great cat food company had been bought out by the infamous Mars International. (Yep, the candy company....) Needless to say, I won't use ANY of their pet food products & they own quite a few well-known brands!
Consumeraffairs shows more complaints cropping up currently about their pet food products, so beware! Whether it's a vitamin pre-mix they bought from some other company or some other excuse. They have an extensive history of being non-responsive to pet owner complaints & lying, saying no complaints have been made....
It's wonderful that you do this for pet owners, but it would all be so unnecessary if people would just read labels, do research, and stop buying into all the "hype" of the pet food advertising industry. It took a lot of my time but didn't cost me a dime to learn which pet foods are healthy and safe and which are not.
Pet food companies change their ingredients without notice. The Whole Dog Journal analyzes pet foods (Dry and Raw) annually for this reason. They also report where they are manufactured and who refuses to tell them where they are manufactured! You would be amazed at the brands that do NOT make their list of approved foods. Great publication with not a single advertisement.
1 of my 5 dogs is a Waggin Train victim. The others never consumed them on a daily basis. I have always been a loyal Purina customer. Stupid me.
I would like to find out what the very best for my pets. Someone recommended this site to me. I plan to get "The List" and subscribe to Petsumer reports, too.
Do you ever change or update "The List". I would hate to get it and then find out it is updated frequently.
Thanks :)
Pet parents need to also be very aware of the pet toys. I purchased some Christmas pet toys. The toys smell as if they have been doused with fuel, and they are manufactured in China, The manufacturer refuses to accept responsibility and will not return them. They toys are marketed under then name of "zanies" and "griggles". Please be very careful when buying these pet toys! They could be toxic to your pets.
Hello Susan,
First, I want to say that I like your Web site. I recently got a cat so I'm new to the responsibility. Like everyone else who visits your site and gets your newsletter, I find you a valuable resource for helping me raise a healthy, happy Molly. I definitely appreciate your efforts.
That said, unfortunately, I have a complaint. Talk about Buyer Beware. I just bought your list of recommended pet food companies and was very disappointed--and annoyed--because the list was mostly about foods for dogs. If I had known that, I would not have bought the list. I went back to read the description about the list to see if I missed that essential fact--the list being mostly wonderful for dog owners. If you did write it, I overlooked it again. If you did not state it, then I suggest that you do so. That way other cat owners who are also on a limited budget can have more info to make a better decision about whether to purchase it.
I have three cats myself (but I home cook for everyone) - so nothing was intentional on there being more dog foods than cat foods. The List is from my experience and many things I know about these companies - I can't help it if there are not more cat foods that I personally would feed my own. I was not going to include a pet food simply to fill a hole.