Does your doggie LOVE Embark? Do you LOVE the environment? Head over to the Center for Health, Environment & Justice’s online auction .

Here’s some info on the organization from their website :

“The Center for Health, Environment and Justice works to build healthy communities, with social justice, economic well-being, and democratic governance. We believe this can happen when individuals from communities have the power to play an integral role in promoting human health and environmental integrity. Our role is to provide the tools to build strong, healthy communities where people can live, work, learn, play and pray. CHEJ was instrumental in establishing some of the first national policies critical to protecting community health like the Superfund Program, Right-to-Know and others. By pioneering the effort nationwide to protect communities from exposures to dangerous environmental chemicals, in the air, water and soil, CHEJ has become the preeminent national leader among grassroots groups reducing the burden of toxic substances on our environment.”

They’re auctioning off ten pounds of our grain-free diet, Embark to benefit their organization and ultimately helping to improve communities all over the United States. Bidding starts at $18 and is open until April 30.

Ladies and Gentlemen… start your bidding!

Bookmark to:
         

You’re an HK customer, so you already know how much you mean to us. We love to involve our customers in as many of our big decisions as possible and to that end, we’re putting together a group of our most highly valued, long-term and influential customers, to act as an advisory group on some exciting new projects that are in the works.

An Uber-User is passionate about her animals and their health. He follows holistic principles and thoroughly researches all options before making a decision on veterinary care. She may breed, compete other be otherwise professionally involved with her animals. His dog is his baby.

 Think you fit the bill?

Send us an email and tell us why. Eight lucky customers will be selected from applications on April 27th and be invited (via a series of ongoing emails) to tell us what they think about our recipes, packaging, ideals and more. They’ll have VIP status on our web site, with a special discount for online purchases - and the qudos of having a say in what we do and how we do it.

Email reviews@thehonestkitchen.com with a note about what makes you an Uber User. How many pets are you guardian to? How long have you fed our foods? What is your involvement in the animal world? What is your approach to animal health? What else?

Can’t wait to hear from you!

Bookmark to:
         

Thought it might be fun to share some snippits from a few of the emails we’ve received in the last few weeks - from customers who’ve been thankful they’ve found a new, healthy, trustworthy option for their furry companions, and from others who’ve been with us since the start and just wanted to write and say hello:

“I wanted to take a minute to say that I am so glad for the Honest Kitchen! Knowing that all your ingredients are US origin, organic and hormone free is a wonderful feeling, especially now with the horror of all the pet food recalls.”

 
“This is a simple thanks for everything you do at The Honest Kitchen !!   I was introduced to your dehydrated raw dog food about 4 months ago and both of my Standard Poodles were instant converts !!!    They love it  !!!   And it loves them - as I certainly can see the difference in the coat of the older dog. And now with this dog food scare  –  I can not thank you enough for the quality of food that The Honest Kitchen has made available for our “fuzzy friends”  !!! “

“I just wanted to let you know that I was affected by the pet food recall recently.  My cat is going to be ok but upon researching new food for her I discovered your company.  I’m very excited about it and look forward to getting my supply.”

 
“Our Greyhound had seizures of unknown origin sporadically for 3 years, about 2 to 3 times a year.  We thought it seemed food related. We started feeding her “Force” and within 2 weeks her coat was silken and her overall appearance was improved. She ADORES this food and hasn’t had any seizures since eating it for over a year now!
Perhaps a coincidence, but we’re sold!”

We love to hear from the guardians of our valued customers! Thank you to everyone who takes the time to write a note, it makes our day - and we especially love it when you send us photos of the animals who are thriving on our foods. Keep ‘em coming!

Bookmark to:
         

I was checking out the Big Dog Blog and noticed an article on genetic testing to determine breed of dog. As the caretaker of a “mutt”, I’m always curious to know why my Terrier has the body of a extra furry Whippet. People at the are always giving their suggestions as to what he could be. A friend of mine insisted he was part (non-specific Terrier) and part German Shepherd (funny! Is that even physically possible?). My favorite thus far though was that he was the world’s largest Border Terrier.

So now I’ve spent the better part of the week pondering whether I even want to know what Samson is. The only steadfast conclusion that I’ve come to is that for now, I’m having fun guessing. Perhaps when the test is available in late summer my feelings will be different, but hey, we’ve got better things to do… like puppy school!

Bookmark to:
         

It was getting to be about that time we sent out another edition of the Honest Kitchen Newsletter. We’ve received tons of requests to include more cat-centric information, so we put Harry to work and he came up with a super yummy “Prowlmelette.” The office hounds were jealous at first, but quickly recovered to their consistently blissful state once we served up the fish recipe that will appear in May’s newsletter.

Appearing in this month’s newsletter:

Thrive - it’s minimal, baby… minimal!

Niche Diets - Mini-mouth vs. Big-mouth…. Does it matter?

Store of the Month - Bones2Go!…. Don’t mess with Texas

Want to be part of all the magic? Join the list (and sign up for a chance to win 20lbs. of food) here!

movie a porn how make toamateurs interacial movies freeinterracial links lesbian moviejapanese movie sexmovies free japanese sex forrobertson movie scary kathleenporn kims movieskung fu movie Map

Bookmark to:
         

With the very sad news in the last few days, that yet another pet food recall has been announced by a major pet food manufacturer, following the illness and deaths of some beloved pets, we would like to assure our customers, that our products do not contain any wheat or wheat gluten ingredients and have not been impacted in any way by the recall.

Our products are made in a facility that makes human food, and the grade of our ingredients meets human-food criteria. We do not use petfood-grade quality ingredients of any kind and the ingredients we do use, undergo rigorous testing and QC to ensure they are safe even for a human to eat. The only grains we use are Certified Organic, human grade oats, barley, rye and coming soon - Quinoa.

We also offer several completely  grain-free  and gluten-free pet food diets, for customers who would like to eliminate grain from their companions’ diets.

Bookmark to:
         

March 22nd 2007. San Diego, CA Consumers should take time to read pet food labels, familiarize themselves with what various ingredients really are, research the companies who make the products they buy - and then decide what they would (and would not) like their pets to eat.

As pet owners come to terms with the gravity of this most recent, widespread tragedy in the pet food industry, it is important to learn as much as possible from what has occurred, to protect our animal companions and to try to evoke change in an industry that has become a ‘catch-all’ for industrial and human-food by-products and off-casts.

Many people are relying on the Internet for resources on the recall. Don’t forget elderly neighbors, family members or others who might not have computer access and still might be unaware of the gravity of the situation. The extent of this latest recall makes it impossible to convey brand names, lot numbers, batch codes and UPC’s effectively without computer access. Helping those who are still in the dark, to double check the food they’ve bought, could still save lives.
Pet Industry regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that most people would never knowingly give to their animal companions. Many conventional ‘grocery brand’ pet foods contain by-products, such as feet, beaks, feathers, blood, and other animal parts unfit for human consumption. Chemical preservatives including Ethoxyquin, TBHQ, BHA and BHT, are utilized to prolong the shelf life, and grains or grain-parts that are hard to digest and mostly unsuitable for cats and dogs (wheat, corn, rice and soy), are often used as a protein source instead of meat.

Understanding what various pet food ingredients are - and why they are included in some products - is an important part of a pet owner’s responsibility when selecting a food for their companion. The AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) formal definition of gluten is “The tough, viscid nitrogenous substance remaining when the flour or wheat or other grain is washed to remove the starch”. Why is it included? It costs far less than meat and other wholesome ingredients!

Many customers have been particularly shocked to discover just how many different brands can be made by one major conglomerate (even well respected products that are not affected by the recall). And more disturbing, a vast number of products under so many different labels, names and price points, could all contain the same exact low-grade ingredient. In many cases, products with appealing names and labels that are marketed as ‘veterinary’ or ‘natural’ in some way, have turned out to be exactly the same as the generic store brands that are sold for a fraction of the cost!

The following checklist can be used to develop some insight into companies that a customer is considering:

Are they willing to share ingredient data with customers?

How do they rate in independent publications like the Whole Dog Journal?

How well do they respond to a basic customer service questions? What about complex inquiries warranting a nutritional consultation?

Do they use whole, or organic ingredients?

What are their product innovations or other features that set them apart from their competition or somehow raise the bar?

What are the company’s values?

Is the company privately owned? Are they willing to disclose who they are owned by?

Will they disclose if they make their own products or contract out manufacturing to another vendor?

The Pet Food Aisle can be a daunting place, with an overwhelming array of pretty packets and marketing tactics dwelling on the shelves. Pet owners must take the time to understand the options available for their budget. Most products that are sold in convenience stores or supermarkets (with the exception of some natural and health food stores) are sub-standard.

Pet guardians should buy from specialty pet stores with staff who will take the time to walk them through the options. If you can’t get the advice you need, shop elsewhere. A store who has taken the time to carry more reputable, high class brands, as well as raw and natural products, will generally have well trained staff who can help owners in their purchasing decisions. The Whole Dog Journal is an excellent, unbiased resource for product reviews and opinion.

As more customers begin to educate themselves on the issue of pet food manufacturing and then start to expect better quality, the industry will slowly but surely be forced to look at itself and re-address what ingredients are acceptable for use in pet food products. Perhaps even AAFCO will reconsider some of the obscene substances that are unfit for human consumption, currently allowed in pet foods, and they’ll become obsolete altogether.

Other Resources

The Pet Connection www.petconnection.com

The Animal Protection Institute http://www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359&more=1

The Dog Food Project www.dogfoodproject.com

The Whole Dog Journal www.whole-dog-journal.com

Bookmark to:
         

In the first of our series of ‘Ask The Nutritionist’ posts, we take a look at an increasingly common concern in cats and dogs - Urinary Tract Health.

Any time urinary tract problems arise, there is a potential risk for serious illness to occur, so it is always important to get a proper veterinary diagnosis before treatment begins. My initial recommendation would be to try to seek out a good holistic vet. www.ahvma.org has a database that you can search by state. Any vet should be able to determine what sort of crystals are present, based on analysis under a microscope. It should not require submission to a lab. It is vitally important to diagnose if crystals, infection or another underlying cause exists. The two main types of crystals (struvite and calcium oxalate) are diametrically opposed to one another and therefore the treatment method for each is different, too.

My recommendation would be to feed a good quality commercial food (not one of the ‘prescription’ diets which tend to be full of by-products and artificial ingredients including chemical preservatives) or better still - a home made diet, along with a supplement that is suited to the type of crystals the pet has. A product such as Berry Balance made by www.Solidgoldhealth.com or a similar product made by Wysong will help to acidify the urine in the case of struvite crystals, which form when the urine is too alkaline. Potassium Citrate granules are indicated when the urine is too acidic, and calcium oxalate crystals start to from. When chosen correctly, based on the diagnosis and analysis of the urine, these supplements can help manage urinary pH and reduce the likelihood of more crystals developing.

Animals with urine that is too alkaline (those prone to struvite crystal formation) can also be susceptible to urinary tract infections. Research is ongoing as to whether one condition causes the other, or the two things just flare up with the pH becomes high. Antibiotics will help to correct a true infection but they should not be used indiscriminately and we never recommend their long term use to try to ‘prevent’ infections.

A holistic approach to health is all about balance, and helping the body to heal itself. Long term supplementation with the above mentioned products, is not always necessary; you can monitor the pH of the urine yourself if you wish, using pH strips which are now quite commonly available. Any variances in the pH can be addressed with occasional supplement use, based on whether the urine has become more acidic or alkaline. A urinary health tincture called Tinkle Tonic from www.animalessentials.com is also an excellent product for achieving and maintaining over all urinary tract health.

Bookmark to:
         

It’s no secret that in an attempt to be more fiscally conservative, companies are reducing some of the more costly benefits once available like health insurance and pensions. Perhaps, one of the biggest bonuses coming out of this cut-back are the more “creative” benefits being offered to employees (casual Fridays are so passe) like granting people permission to bring their dogs to work and concierge services.

Lisa Belkin, a writer for the New York Times recently chronicled this phenomenon in her Life’s Work column titled “Can Your Dog Humanize the Office?.” Sometimes we think we’re the only lucky ones out there that can spend our days alternating (or sometimes doing all at once) between typing, chatting on the phone, and giving bellyrubs. Belkin, however, brings to our attention that there are other companies out there that realize the value of bringing a dog into the workplace that goes beyond employee satisfaction. For instance, she mentions a local advertising agency that came up with a very popular slogan for a large-chain pet store after their eight furry friends were put on the project. While not all dogs can serve such an immediate service, other companies realize that people just like to be around dogs for their emotional well being (which is in my opinion, the most valuable service of all).

That sounds nice, doesn’t it? If your company or the one that you work for is considering allowing pets at work, don’t forget to set up some reasonable ground rules. The dogs will love you for it!

Original Article: Can Your Dog Humanize the Office?

Bookmark to:
         

This week has been very exciting due to the roll-out of the new site, development of new products, and not to mention we’ve got a whole lot of new friends (hundreds of people have signed up for the newsletter!). I’m also excited to let you know that we’re going to be starting an “Ask the Nutritionist” column to be published monthly. Our very own Lucy Postins, the owner of the Honest Kitchen, will pick a particularly interesting or compelling question to be published here and the person whose question is chosen will receive a free bag of food for their dog or cat. Please don’t forget to include that this is a submission to be considered for the column. Email your questions to Questions at thehonestkitchen dot com

Bookmark to:
         

After many weeks of waiting, our brand new web site is finally here! www.thehonestkitchen.com has a clean, simple look and feel with lots of new resources and an easy to use one-click shop http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/shop/index.shtml. Let us know what you think about the new site!

Bookmark to: