Saturday, April 28, 2007

Keep Our Pets Safe Cyber-March

Keep Our Pets Safe
Although the pet food recalls haven't affected those of us here in the EU (stringent regulations concerning animal feed, including pet food, were developed in the EU after mad cow disease became a major issue) , the entire tainted pet food mess in North America is still of concern. So many pets have become ill or died, and it's hard to know what foods are now safe! Every day more foods are being recalled, including very high-end brands that were supposed to be organic.

The Keep Our Pets Safe cyber-march is on today, and there are memorial marches in cities all over Canada and the United States. A postcard blitz is also being organized in the U.S., to demonstrate the scope of this pet food recall, as the FDA continues to publicize only "16 confirmed deaths" when there have been reports of many, many more.

I hope that this tainted pet food tragedy will be a wake-up call for the U.S. and Canada to strengthen their regulations concerning pet food, just as mad cow disease provided the impetus for reform in the E.U.

My thoughts and prayers are with all the animals who have become sick or died from eating tainted pet food, and their families and those who loved them.

11 comments

Amazing Gracie said...

Thank you SO much for this post! I can't believe we're not more responsible in the states.

Gattina said...

How terrible, I didn't know that !

Oscar the Puppy Cat said...

I think this is a wonderful thing. I also think that this could apply to all areas of care. Vaccinations, Spay and Nueter, etc.

Rosemary B❤️ said...

Well written post.
We are so sad to hear that this continues on and more kitties and families are suffering.

Forty Paws said...

Very nice post. Yes, Europe is so much more advanced in environmental concerns, conservation, safety, recycling. It amazes me that the US lags so far behind, but that's our HUGE government.

Luf, Us

Forty Paws said...

Yup, that's the way Paw explained it to Maw when they used to go visit his Mum in the UK. He's from England, you know. Sometimes he freaks Maw out with his safety goggles and ear defenders and rubber gloves, but she's like, "Whatever!"

Luf, Us

Tara said...

I posted on this today too, and am joining the virtual march. It is all very, very upsetting.

Tara

carmilevy said...

You have done such an important service by writing this. We rescued our dog from a neglectful home right around the time this tragic story broke. Not a day goes by that I don't ache for the countless pets who have been poisoned. I think I'll give our beloved Frasier another hug. I'm sure he won't mind.

BTW, I followed your link home from Roxanne's (SRP/Melange) site, and I look forward to reading more. I hope you'll pop by my site and say hi as well.

All the best,

Carmi
http://writteninc.blogspot.com/

Ann M & the Kitties said...

Well said. I think this may be the proverbial tip of the iceburg as far as things we neglect in the US. Thanks for your support.

Jake and Bathsheba said...

Thank you for your important message, Dragonheart. We posted the ribbon too, but without words.

On a happier note, we want to wish your mom and dad the best of luck in their marathon tomorrow! They put in the hard work with training, so now it's a bit about luck.

Our grandpa was an excellent marathoner and was nationally ranked when he was in his late 40s (in the 1970s). Mom can't remember his best time, but it was something like 2:46. He ran at Boston a number of times. Sadly, he's no longer with us because he had a heart arrhythmia.

He grew up in East Germany not far from Hamburg, so we'll be thinking of Grandpa as we think of your mom and dad today.

~J&B

MaoMao said...

Thanks for this post, Dragonheart, and for the heads-up about the march!