>From:    Elizabeth Lovins <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Comparing diets
>
>As a ferret food manufacturer I take offense to your post. We are not
>in business to tell anyone how they have to feed their ferrets. That
>is a personal decision that has to work for your family.
>
>Not all companies are out there just to make a buck. There is at least
>one company out there who makes a food specifically formulated for pet
>ferrets. Their foods are not derived from other species diets. They
>DID do significant research and have published the feeding studies
>that verify the results. Our nutrition research and formulation is
>done by a man with a PhD in carnivore nutrition.
>
>In addition to having done our homework, we are members of the ferret
>community. We promote rescue and adoption of ferrets. We work with the
>shelters and rescues to provide for ferrets. We do not breed ferrets.
>...
>Everyone should remember that being printed or said does not make
>information correct. ALWAYS make sure your information comes from a
>credible source, one that has the background to give you accurate
>information.

Liz you work for Performance Foods (Totally Ferret) in their Dog food
division - (according to the website)Performance Foods makes this
statement on their web page:

"Performance Foods, Inc. was founded in 1989 and incorporated in 1991.
Owners Dr. Tom Willard, Ph.D. and Patricia Willard began Performance
Foods with the goal of building a niche market for ferrets."

If "building a niche market" is NOT an example of an intention to make
a buck - then exactly what is it? They certainly aren't offering these
products free of charge!

Of course, you'd take offence at my post(s) because I am presenting
viable information that many people are reading that are completely
contrary to what your company and source of livelihood, are providing
to the uninitiated. No one likes to hear someone speak negatively about
a product they believe in.

Where exactly are these "published" studies? Not on the company's
website! And certainly no links provided to offsite information either!
If Performance Foods is so proud of their studies it would lend
credence to their claims if they published these so called studies on
their website! Especially in light of the recent pet food ingredient
debacle that sickened so many pets and caused many people to begin
delving into the actual ingredient lists of their pet's food!

Making a statement about doing studies is NOT the same as publishing
those studies. "Performance Foods, Inc. is the first and only company
to have formulated, tested, proven, published and presented our
results. Our research proved Totally Ferret products to meet and/or
exceed the unique and specific needs of all life stages of ferrets in
live animal tests.

Where are these so called "Published presentations"?

I also see how the Turkey, Venison and Lamb product your company
sells is STILL blank regarding the ingredients! On August 8,2008 I
emailed a note to info at totally ferret dot com regarding the lack
of information on the Company's site. While now, there is a picture
of the Turkey/Venison/Lamb product, there still is no information
regarding it.

I also inquired as to information regarding total digestible energy
offered from Totally ferret products and a separation of protein
percentages derived from animal sources and plant sources in Totally
ferret products. I have never received a response! Not exactly what
I would consider "100% customer Satisfaction".

Your company's website makes the standard kibble labeling claims of:

"Veterinarian tested and approved/ Recommended by veterinarians ";
I know of several veterinarians that have tested, approved and
recommended natural/raw diets and they have published their
information on numerous websites.

"Exclusive cooking process";
your company has devised a different means of heating besides using a
moist heat or a dry heat? Other than microwaving or convection heating
what other methods are there that your company holds "exclusive" rights
to? Ferrets don't NEED to eat cooked foods.

"Kibble promotes less tartar for healthier teeth",
yeah, about as well as eating crackers and cookies for every meal
cleans human's teeth.

It is commendable that your company does work within the ferret
community and with rescues and adoptions - me too. I fully understand
that many shelters cannot adopt a natural feeding regimen - it takes
a concerted effort to get some ferrets to switch and some never do,
some cannot because they already suffer from health issues - but that
doesn't mean a natural diet is dangerous it just means the ferret's
system has become addicted and now is dependent upon the foreign
matter.

I don't need a PhD to prove to me that what Mother Nature intended
for the ferret to eat is what is ideal for it to eat! Working for
a corporation doesn't equate to credibility or experience.

Presenting information and personal experiences offers people the
means to make their own choices.

[Posted in FML 6241]