Well let me tell you about China, since I just returned from living there for 2 years. Our dog food is 1,000% better then the crap you get there. After eating there for 2 years, I have about $10,000 worth of damage to my teeth because of 3 cracked teeth and 1 tooth which came out. The Chinese do not use a band saw to cut their meat but instead use a meat cleaver which leaves bone fragments in the meat. When you bite into the meat, which is in every dish you get, you will crack your teeth when you hit one of the bone fragments. Those pictures of an animal being cut up, is right next to the veggies and there are flies all over going from the bloody meat to the raw veggies which you will be eating tonight. I had to return back to the US after 2 years because my gastrointestinal tract finally gave out from eating their unsanitary food and I needed to seek medical attention. I went from 210 pounds 6'2" to 155 in a few months. There is ZERO quality control over their package goods. Eating something out of a box was like eating "Cracker Jacks" because you never know what the surprise inside is going to be. The Chinese never complain and just accept it, because there is no one to complain too. Their veggies are grown on the worse polluted soil I have ever seen. It is like eating raw veggies grown on top of fresh raw sewage. Anything that comes from China, stay away from at all cost!

Here ya go Florey! It was on page 4 I believe. While I'm at it I'll post my vegetarian recipe for chili. It's easily made with meat by starting with browning ground meat or other meat then going from there with this recipe. Saute about 3 cups each of onion, celery and peppers of your choice and two Tablespoons or more of garlic[ I use about 3 or 4 for this amount, smiles]. When these are sauteed a bit, add two cups of carrots and 2 large cans of small diced tomatoes [with their juice]. I don't like to use crushed or sauce in my chili. I think it overwhelms the veggies. A bay leaf and couple tablespoons each of cumin, chili powder, and salt. Add water or veggie stock, if needed, to bring level up to slightly above veggies. As hard veggies begin to soften, add 2 cups each of eggplant[cubed], zucchini and/or yellow squash. Cook another ten minutes and add 2 cups each mushrooms, canned or frozen corn and canned or frozen green beans. Taste now for salt and seasonings and adjust. Next add as many beans as you like. I use the liquid in the beans too. At least 1 lrg can of dark and 1 lrg can of light kidney beans. Also, black beans and cannellini beans are good. Pintos are great too, naturally. As soon as beans are heated through the chili is done. Taste once more for seasoning. Like all chili this is best if made the day before. Does great frozen. I usually make about 3 gallons of this at a time and freeze in 4 or 5 containers.

Hi Lisa, ((((hugs))))). So sorry for your loss. You gave Zippy a good life. Sorry I can't offer suggestions, as I don't have fish in my pond. Its hard to lose any little being that we've gotten attached to.

Dear Tonia, the way I found this posting and website alltogether is by doing a search on the Elias Consulting Group! I had been searching for their company for a week now. Reading your story truly bought tears to my eyes, as I am a mother of 3 with a grandchild and struggling through my own life to make it. The best and only gift i can give to you now is prayer. I will definately keep you and your fam in my prayer, as your story is VERY similar to mine! I went to use this service some years back, when my first husband passed away, but by the grace of God, I decided to figure things out on my own, and was able to rent a place. I re-married, had another baby and things went bad again, when I separated. I am at a point in my life now, where I am struggling once again, with 2 new members added to the family and recently decided that I'd try to use the Elias Group. I couldnt believe it while I read your story. They were my only hope! Well, you know, God dont bring us to it, if He cant bring us through it. So stay strong, sister, and I pray that God sends a "break-through" for all that are without homes. I'll be praying for you.