Diamond Pet Food Withdraws Products in Response to American Nutrition Inc. Pet Food Recall Contact: Diamond Pet Food Media Hotline (888) 207-6208 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Meta, MO -- April 26, 2007 -- Because of the canned pet food recall initiated today by American Nutrition Inc., Diamond Pet Foods has announced it is withdrawing a limited number of canned products manufactured by American Nutrition. This action is limited to three specific canned products: Diamond Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13 oz. cans, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Kitten Formula 5.5 oz. cans, and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Puppy Formula 13 oz. cans. ........................................................ Chenango Valley Pet Foods Issues Voluntarily Nationwide Recall of Certain Pet Foods Contact: Dennis J. Bobita (610) 821-0608 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- April 26, 2007 -- Chenango Valley Pet Foods is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and voluntarily recalling pet foods manufactured with a certain shipment of rice protein concentrate. The company was informed by Wilbur-Ellis that the rice protein concentrate shipped to Chenango Valley Pet Foods may be contaminated with melamine, and instructed Chenango Valley Pet Foods to recall any pet foods manufactured with the rice protein concentrate. Melamine is an industrial chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers that may lead to illness or fatalities in animals if consumed. The pet foods were sold to customers in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, who further sold the products to their customers through catalog mail-orders or retail outlets. Only the following dry pet foods are involved in the recall: DOCTORS FOSTER & SMITH CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE DOG FOOD, NET WT. 5 LBS., 12.5 LBS, and 25 LBS; Code dates: Best Used By Jan 24, 09; Best Used By Feb 8, 09; Best Used By Feb 26, 09; Best Used By April 10, 09; Best Used By April 17, 09; DOCTORS FOSTER & SMITH CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE CAT FOOD, NET WT. 3 LBS. and 7 LBS.; Code date: Best Used By March 13, 09; LICK YOUR CHOPS LAMB MEAL, RICE & EGG CAT FOOD, 4 LBS. packages, Code date: Best Used By April 29, 08; Bulk CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE DOG FOOD sold to one consignee (SmartPak) in a 2000 lbs. tote, Ship date: Feb 9, 2007. .................................................... Joint News Release: FDA and USDA Determine Swine Fed Adulterated Product USDA to Compensate for Depopulation The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today notified State authorities that swine fed adulterated product will not be approved to enter the food supply. Based on information currently available, FDA and USDA believe the likelihood of illness after eating pork from swine fed the adulterated product would be very low; however, the agencies believe it is prudent to take this measure. FDA determined that a shipment of rice protein imported from China was contaminated with melamine and melamine-related compounds. The product was imported during the week of April 2, 2007 by Wilbur-Ellis, an importer and distributor of agricultural products. The rice protein was used in the production of pet food and a byproduct was used to produce animal feed. The contaminants in question include melamine and melamine-related compounds, including cyanuric acid, the combination of which is a potential source of concern in relation to human and animal health. Scientific research indicates that melamine alone, at detected levels, is not a human health concern. However, no scientific data exist to ascertain the effects of combining melamine and melamine-related compounds. Therefore, a determination has not yet been made regarding the safety of the product. Because the animal feed in question was adulterated, USDA cannot rule out the possibility that food produced from animals fed this product could also be adulterated. Therefore, USDA cannot place the mark of inspection on food produced from these animals. USDA is offering to compensate producers who euthanize swine that were fed the adulterated product. USDA is authorized to use Section 32 funds to restore farmers purchasing power. USDA is also offering the expertise and assistance of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) personnel in carrying out depopulation activities, to ensure animals are euthanized and disposed of in accordance with Federal and State laws. FDA and FSIS are coordinating with State authorities in eight states where the adulterated feed is known to have been purchased. Eight pork producers in the states of California, Kansas, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah are known to have purchased the feed. These combined operations involve approximately 6,000 hogs. All of the animals are currently being held under state quarantines in CA, NC, NY and SC. In KS, OK and UT producers agreed to hold the animals until further notice. Authorities are also in contact with a feed mill in Missouri that might have received adulterated feed. Pork and pork products derived from animals that were fed the adulterated product will also be destroyed. In CA and UT, pork from federally inspected plants is being held under FSIS direction. In SC, a state inspected plant is voluntarily holding swine that were fed the adulterated product. FSIS, FDA and state authorities are in the process of determining whether any meat from animals that were fed the adulterated product has entered commerce. If that has occurred, FSIS will work with states and industry to take the appropriate action. FDA and FSIS are continuing the effort to trace the adulterated feed. If additional producers are identified who fed the adulterated product to animals, they will also be offered compensation by USDA for depopulation and disposal. ..............................................

Here's a post from Jan. 17: Minnie, thanks for asking....there is news. As in my previous post about our pet Lady Bug, the little sweetie continued her usual routine of greeting us nearly every morning on the windowsill above the sink. She came to the drop of water we provided and the would settle down with a breakfast of banana. Every couple of days, she would go into hiding for 24 to 36 hours or so then reappear and pick up the routine for several days. Several days before Christmas, she was joined on the window sill by a friend. A little smaller than our sweetie, and a little brighter in color. At first the newcomer was a little skittish, running off to higher places on the window frame when we moved our hand toward the sill to supply food and water. After a few days, fear was lost in favor of water and food, but the two of them pretty much avoided each other. We kept their dining areas on opposite sides of the sill, but they would be found on each others spot now and then. Both would disappear for a day or so, only to reappear apparently when in need. I suspected that the little newcomer was not a Lady Bug, but in fact, a Man Bug. I knew that in nature, the male is often smaller and more brightly colored than the female. My suspicions were correct. Last Thursday while cleaning up the dinner dishes, I witnessed my little girl bug being "assulted" by this litle thug as she was runnng across the sill in front of me. He was clinging tightly to her backside. Actually, she seemed to be enjoying it. I could almost see her giggling along with his wiggling as she dragged him along. After about 30 seconds, he released her and just like a man, flew up onto the ceiling fan, leaving her looking stunned and abandoned. The next morning neither of them came for breakfast. We haven't seen either of them since. I suppose she is off preparing a nursery, and he is off looking for another innocent lady to seduce. I am wondering if I should go out and buy some aphid laden plants to feed her brood. I would think that I shouldn't start them off on bananas.

We are grateful for having insurance; it makes decisions so much easier. We are also grateful to those who went before us with their beloved pets to help establish a protocol to be used and for those medical advancements which have been a game changer for both humans and pets. murraysmom, glad that your friend was able to have two extra years with her coonhound...cool dogs by the way. how wonderful that Miku has been in remission for over three years. Lymphoma treatment has really come a long way in just a few years. We actually participated on a doggy lymphoma forum for several years after my daughter's dog was diagnosed and saw some of those protocols change and remission times increase.

Even though the airlines have quite serving peanuts (for the most part), they have NO RULE at all about anyone bringing his own peanuts on a flight. People fly with dogs/cats for as many different reasons as there are for people flying. When we lived in LA, we had 5 cats and 2 dogs; we went to Martha's Vineyard for 3 months as my teacher husband had a job there. We neither wanted to board all our pets for 3 months, nor could we afford to do so. They went with us on the plane, but in cargo. When one is flying a pet in cargo, there are various outside temp requirements which must be met - it can't be too hot or too cold or the animal cannot go on the plane. We were a nervous wreck that it would be too hot, but we were lucky. Our plane was large enough that there was access to the special cargo area (pets are not in with the luggage) where pets fly, and the flight attendant checked on them multiple times on our long flight. I'm sorry you don't like to fly with pets, whatever your reason. I'm sure many people flying feel the same way about flying on long flights with infants and children. Yet, both are allowed. Anyone with such a serious health issues would not do well on a plane - who knows who might be covered in dog/cat hair dander, or have brought an entire can of peanuts with them.