Finally.

http://www.peta.org/feat/iams

I just read the Iams campaign the other day and I know what you mean. How long have we been paraded through the picturesque images of dogs and cats in this company’s commercials only to realize the stark reality which lies beneath?

It ranks up there with the dawn commercial claiming to save animals (infamous duck/oil spill).

Looks like they've broken the cardinal rule of animal cruelty:

Don't pick on the cute animals.

:cry: I wish I could take them all home with me and love them like nothing else they've ever known. Those lab people and anyone involved with the ownership or making of profit from this company are evil non-soul owning ugly creatures that have earned the right to cruel and unusual punishment for their role in this horror!

I agree
and that is why even if people question some things that PETA does they still do get alot of good awareness out there

I love your signature fuzzpuddle. I use a similar qoute on my fostering page (http://www.helpmegetridofmydog.com/)

I'm switching to Solid Gold pet food. Of the list of companies that don't test on dogs, this is one of the few brands that they sell at our local stores; plus I've heard it's one of the most nutritious (albiet, not vegan).

All in all, I think PETA has done better lately then in the past.

I'm constantly amazed at the amount of people who should be supporting the work of PETA who instead criticise them.

I am A member of PETA and i have been following the iams issue very closely. I feed my dogs eukanuba products which are made by the iams company. I had planned on changing my pets food before i found out about this, im glad I know what I know now. I actually did send iams an email and to my surprise recieved one back from them. I then sent them another one in response only to get no answer. I did however get an email from them to enter to win a years supply of dog food. I cant wait to see what comes out of this investigation. That company should be ashmed.

The letter I sent the iams company



Date: 4/14/2003 10:59:07 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: AANGEL AXO
To: Jeff.Ansell@iams.com




Dear Sir,
By now I would like to think that you are well aware of the upset you have casued many animal lovers across the country. Being that your business depend on us im sure by now you've realized how shamefull and severe of a mistake you have made. From this point on my pets will no longer be fead youre products. As you are aware you have raised much concern in the activism commmunity. Animal lovers form a strong bond with one another and we are many strong. I have an extremely large address book of freinds and family and aquaintances that share in the same beliefs as I do and I have informed them of your companies foul doings and I assure you I like many others will not tolleraate such behavior. You are a coward and cruel human being for allowing such A crime to take place. I have already begun my boycot of your comapny and though I am sure you dont feel the least bit concerned in which case you should be. For every action there is A reaction. Yours will not be one easily dismissed from the animal rights community.

Originally posted by ElyssaJoy
The letter I sent the iams company

Date: 4/14/2003 10:59:07 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: AANGEL AXO
To: Jeff.Ansell@iams.com

Dear Sir,
By now I would like to think that you are well aware of the upset you have casued many animal lovers across the country. Being that your business depend on us im sure by now you've realized how shamefull and severe of a mistake you have made. From this point on my pets will no longer be fead youre products. As you are aware you have raised much concern in the activism commmunity. Animal lovers form a strong bond with one another and we are many strong. I have an extremely large address book of freinds and family and aquaintances that share in the same beliefs as I do and I have informed them of your companies foul doings and I assure you I like many others will not tolleraate such behavior. You are a coward and cruel human being for allowing such A crime to take place. I have already begun my boycot of your comapny and though I am sure you dont feel the least bit concerned in which case you should be. For every action there is A reaction. Yours will not be one easily dismissed from the animal rights community.

At the risk of sounding like a jerk for pointing this out, there are a tremendous number of spelling and grammatical errors in your letter. I worry that such mistakes degrade the message you are trying to send and allow offenders to blow you off. Your message is terrific, so it's only a matter of cleaning up the errors that hide a wonderful letter, forcing the reader to take notice and thoughtfully consider what you're trying to say.

I want to help, not simply criticize. If you ever want to run something past me for a second pair of eyes to proofread, e-mail me at epski@pacbell.net and I will try to read, revise, and return it to you ASAP.

Yours in positive change,

EP

PS - we all make mistakes. I'm running everything past kpickell now before sending it to make sure I'm getting my facts straight!

From Iams:
Dear Pet Lover:

We are sending you this message in response to your earlier concern regarding
Iams nutritional studies. Since you expressed a great concern regarding this
situation, we wanted to bring you up to date with the most current information.


On March 25, we learned that nutritional studies being conducted for us at an
independent facility in the U.S. may have violated our company's strict research
policy. On March 26, we completed an unannounced visit of the facility to review
procedures and ensure the well-being of dogs and cats at the site.

On March 27, we concluded that the facility did not meet our strict standards
regarding air temperature, ventilation, resting beds, and socialization (even
though the facility recently passed U.S. government inspections). We made the
decision to end all research at the facility.

In addition, we worked with the facility to relocate Fifi, Maisy, Mickey, and
the 16 other dogs to an Iams animal care center. We have an established program
for socialization and employee adoption that will give these dogs the
opportunity for a successful transition to a family.

On April 10, we met with PETA to look over the facts and to share our plan for
the review of our contract research facilities.

We have now completed comprehensive reviews of all external facilities involved
in dog and cat nutritional studies for Iams. This was a major effort which
included Iams researchers, P&G veterinarians, non-technical Iams employees who
served as the "eyes and ears" of our consumers, and where possible, independent
animal welfare experts.

All of the facilities reviewed comply with government regulations, and the
health of the dogs and cats is not at risk. However, we've decided to
consolidate our nutritional studies at fewer contract facilities, and we will
focus more on the implementation of our high standards for dog and cat care.

Also, we are establishing an Independent Animal Care Advisory Board which will
be in place and active by July 15. Its role will be to:

1. Actively review external facility compliance with the Iams research
policy.
2. Participate in random unannounced inspections of external sites.
3. Critically evaluate our research policy and bring new ideas to enhance
animal well being.
4. Evaluate our animal care program to ensure the health and well being of
dogs and cats This evaluation will include site visits to Iams facilities.

If you would like to read about our research policy in more detail, it is posted
on our website at:
www.iams.com/en_US/jhtmls/faq/sw_Faq_detail.jhtml?questionid=167&brandcode=I&loc
aleid=en_US&pagetypeid=FQ
<http://www.iams.com/en_US/jhtmls/faq/sw_Faq_detail.jhtml?questionid=167&brandco
de=I&localeid=en_US&pagetypeid=FQ> (or go to www.iamsco.com
<http://www.iamsco.com/> and access this document through the horizontal
navigation bar by clicking onto News/Stories.)

We want to advance scientific understanding of how nutrition can help dogs and
cats to live long, healthy lives. We only conduct research with dogs and cats
that is equivalent to nutritional or medical studies acceptable on people. We
are deeply committed to dog and cat well being, and our research policy reflects
that commitment.

If you do NOT want to receive further updates, please reply back to us so we can
remove your e-mail address from our list. Thank you again for your initial
concern. We appreciate the opportunity to communicate the status of this
situation

Sincerely,
Cindy Achor
Group Manager
Iams Consumer Care

interesting response from iams...

sounds like a case of iams not keeping an eye on things enough when they outsource info from research facilities...

they don't seem to be cowering, which is good...

what do you think kpickell?!

As much as PETA drives me up the wall sometimes, this response from Iams is one of the things that reminds me that we need them.

KPICKELL,
I GOT THAT VERY SAME LETTER FROM TH EIAMS COMAPNY TOO.

YUp here's my moochie. She wont eat IAMS

http://www.peta.org/feat/iams/page/pet-LaikaBruceGenevieve.jpg

I too am a member of PETA and when I found out about IAMS I wrote the president an email asking for the release of the 19 mets dogs to PETA as well as letting him know I wouldnt support his company anymore.Only to receive one back from customer service stating they were investigating the contract facilities. I then sent them another one and had no responce for some time until finally they sent me an email addressed to "Dear Pet Lover' . Actually the same email letter above.

I am so frustrated that I cannot find a brand of dog food in my grocery store that doesnt do nutritional tests on animals.

Does anyone know of a brand I can get in BC and what store I can get it at?

I always thought that Veg*n pet food was ridiculous. When I took an animal nutrition course as part of my An Sci major at Cornell, we spent about, oh, 1 day on companion animal nutrition. Of course, you could also take a 2 credit course on companion animal nutrition (affectionately called, "dog food" - "you takin' dog food this semester?"), but I never bothered to take it. The gist of the time spent on this issue in 1981 was that, at that time most of the dog food on the market was made by one or two companies, and that, basically, dog food was dog food was dog food. Buy by price was my profs theory. I would be very curious to know what his attitude is today.

A little info on my prof:

http://www.erc.on.ca/research/files/research_features/entroliths.htm

I have changed my mind. I am horrified at the prospect of paying $70 for a 40lb bag of dog food,

http://www.petfoodshop.com/home.html

but, luckily my Chihuahuas don't eat very much. I'll keep you posted on how it all plays out.

I really appreciate this post. I had no idea.....blech.

I occasionally dog-sit for two healthy, highly energetic dogs--one a pit, the other a mutt--and they're both vegan.

Their people have me feed them vegetarian dog food with soy milk (like cereal and milk) in the mornings, and a concoction at night that includes:

Brown rice
Veganaise
Veggie dogs
Milled flax seed
Nutritional Yeast

I believe that's everything. I work off of a recipe posted on the fridge, so I can't remember it off the top of my head.

Anyway, the dogs love it, their coats are healthy, their mouths are healthy, their eyes are healthy... even their attitudes are healthy.

So... my point is that I don't thing veg*n dog food is ridiculous. I'm not as sure about veg*n cat food, though I'm assured it is done (taurine included).

I spent too much time in Missouri when I grew up, methinks, because I want someone else to show me how their cats are doing before I try it with mine. But I sure would like to stop feeding my cat the remnants of other animals if it can be done safely.

Oh, I am convinced now that I am going to switch. I don't have the time to do the homemade food thing, but I will dish out for the dog and cat food.

Cat food's a bit trickier than dog food. Do your research before changing your cat's diet, or you could cause some real harm. Good luck!

I would rely on these companies to provide me with a complete, balanced, healthy pet food. That's why I don't want to do the do it yourself thing.

I don't believe there's a vegan cat food on the market, much less vegetarian. I've only seen the dog food.

Let me know if you find veg*n cat food that I can buy without going into debt or buying it online!

Well, that's the problem - the cost. Got this site from PETA:

http://www.petfoodshop.com/home.html

I'm gonna give it a try, though. Good luck.