Protecting Your Pets’ Plates
Consumers know food manufacturers have systems in place that reduce the risk of food-borne illness and other potential hazards in our food. Less common, is awareness of the rigorous policies of some pet food manufacturers to guarantee the quality and safety of your pet’s next meal.
For example, Diamond Pet Foods follows a quality assurance plan in its manufacturing plants that requires its product to pass 151 safety and quality checks before it reaches your pet’s food dish. The system is designed to add extra layers of protection.
“We believe pet owners should be able to purchase premium products at an affordable price, and, for the past 35 years, we’ve been committed to providing affordable, high-quality pet food options,” said Mark Brinkmann, the company’s chief operations officer. “The 151-check system will help us continue offering reasonably priced, premium products by adding extra assurance that our ingredients are top-quality and safe.”
The system consists of 141 separate tests and checks on the incoming pet food ingredients, and 10 safety and quality checks on the final bagged product prior to shipment.
For testing of incoming grain ingredients, 12 samples are taken of each shipment, which is three times the sample number regulatory standards require.
Mark Mascarenhas, the company’s quality control director, said the substantial final product tests provide additional assurance before the product is shipped to the customer.
“We have built redundancies into our 151-check system as an extra measure to prevent error,” said Mascarenhas. “Our quality system uses the latest technology and equipment, and high-quality ingredients that help animals digest nutrients.”
All of the company’s products are “precision formulated” for content, quality, consistency and uniformity. In addition to its commitment to safety and quality, Diamond undergoes audits by a respected independent laboratory for food safety, quality and palatability.
Why Do So Many People Keep Pets
Have you ever wondered about this? I don’t know for sure, but with the relatively sudden appearance of a plethora of super pet stores and the burgeoning growth of the industry in general, my guess is that it might have something to do with people wanting to decrease the stress that plagues all of us.
Personally, we do not have any pets, because we have no timeor spacefor them and don’t want the extra work and responsibility.
But many people, especially those with children at home, for some reason do wish to care for one or more pets. And I realize that some parents simply yield to the “want ones” from their kids. And that’s okay, as long as they also teach those kids the responsibility that goes along with pet ownership. Sadly, many don’t.
Some single people seem to acquire pet(s) as a status symbol or as a means of meeting someone by establishing an excuse to speak to someone while out walking or running.
Still others are simply lonely and dote on their pet(s) as they might dote on a mate if they had one.
Now, you would think that anyone who has or would be thinking about acquiring a pet, especially a relatively large one, would already be a home owner, wouldn’t you? Well, if that’s what you think, you would be wrong!
How do I know that?
Because I’m a property manager, and it just boggles my mind the number of people who call and ask if we accept pets. We have both single rooms and one-bedroom apartments, but that doesn’t seem to faze these people.
I mean, some of these people have not one large dog or cat, but several . . . and they expect someone to rent them a small room or apartment? Makes you wonder what goes through their minds (if anything)!
Don’t get me wrong. I love cuddly animals and have had many pets in years past . . . but always in a house with a yard that we owned. And our dogs did their business in our yard, not on public grounds.
Then, of course, there are those home owners (or home renters, as the case may be), who allow their dogs to become nuisances in otherwise quiet neighborhoods. They bark incessantly for hours at a time, to the apparent unconcern of their owners, and disturb others’ peace.
Years ago, I remember resorting to sleeping with a box fan on “high” just so that I could get to sleep, because of a neighbor’s “pet.” When I complained to that neighbor, she told me that their Border Collie was a “watch” dog . . . really? How would they ever know if someone was intruding, because the dog barked non-stop? She could not have cared less if neighbors were being disturbed!
Again, the question is, why do these people insist on harboring these animals at the expense of their neighbors’ peace and quiet?
Could it be that this somehow relieves their stress? I do not see how that would be possible, and it certainly adds to the stress of their neighbors!
But caring for an animal does seem to contribute to the happiness and peace of mind of many. I know, for instance, of a nursing home where an Irish Setter roams the halls and brings joy and happiness to the faces of the folks there.
Finally, I know of several couples who have reached the point in their relationships where they seem to just tolerate each other, and their pets are mutually enjoyed so that they have sort of a “substitute” to fill in the gaps that are wanting in their relationships.
It is as if these kinds of people transfer their affection for another human being to the pet kingdom, and they’re losing a lot in the end.
Loving animals is one thing. Giving them precedence over human beings is quite another. Everything should be done in moderation.
[Top]When It Comes To Animal Wellness, Compromise Is Never An Option
It is a known fact that animals are not so well endowed with the art of survival as their human counterparts. In fact, many of their ailments remain unattended to, due to lack of medical exposure and care. People are doing their bid to ease their agony, but too much can still be done. Government agencies in various countries are working extensively to build awareness among the pet owners. Stray animals are also provided with basic medical facilities which help them sustain their health. It is imperative to say that without the help and awareness of the common mass, such endeavours will not be successful. Awareness among common mass is of much importance thus.
Pet owners can take up the onus of spreading the message of animal care. To do that, they themselves need to be well versed in the nuances of animal care. Love alone is not enough for the upkeep of the pet animals and one can only imagine the effect of unpleasant health habits on pet animals. Diet for instance is often overlooked by pet owners and the pets suffer the consequences. It is advisable to take the pet animals for regular checkups to the veterinarians.
Canada is at the forefront of animal wellness for the last couple of decades. The vets in Burlington command worldwide repute and boast of advanced expertise in the field of animal health care. Veterinary research has also developed at a rapid pace in recent times in Canada and U.S. The result is palpable in the diminishing death rate of animals in these countries. Even the most life threatening diseases and ailments is kept under control with professional expertise. People from across the globe consult the vets in Burlington when faced with their pets health ailments.
There are a number of well renowned animal hospitals in and around Burlington. The one concern for the administration in Canada is to allot more funds for these world renowned institutions. While much expense is made in the medical facilities, one can expect to see the much more sophisticated facility in times to come. What that means that the chances of normal death among animals are increasingly becoming high. This is all well and good for the pet owners, but the key element remains with the pet owners themselves. If the pet owners fulfil their responsibility for the upkeep of their pets, the apathy of the animals will diminish considerably.
[Top]Goldfish Details And Information
Goldfish have been around for generations now. They’ve been an integral part of the popular human consciousness and are amongst the preferred pet fish. Goldfish are fantastic starter fish for anyone aiming to start an aquarium. As a result of their long history, they are available in various shapes, sizes and body types. Members of the Carp family, Goldfish make wonderful pets as they are hardy and simple to keep as well as reasonably cheap. It is easy to keep Goldfish in a simple fish bowl as well as in large aquariums. Goldfish are incredible and delightful fish.
Varieties of Goldfish
Common Goldfish: As the name suggests, these are the most typical kind of goldfish and vary in color with their cousins, the Carp. They come in an assortment of colors including Crimson, Orange, White, Yellow and Black.
Black Moor: The eyes are by far the most remarkable part about this Goldfish. They’ve got extraordinary eyes that protrude from their faces. These are also named Dragon Eyes in China
Bubble Eye: This type of fish has eyes that point upward and unusual fluid filled sacks.
Celestial Eye: Very unusual looking fish that nearly looks as if wearing glasses of some sort. Its eyes bulge out and it has an extended swishy tail.
Comet: This fish has a good deal in common with the common Goldfish and is a cute and small variety of fish. Incredibly interesting tail.
Fantail: This sort of Goldfish seems like a Dorito chip. it is triangular and has a large dorsal fin. Very interesting looking critter.
Lionhead: The Lionhead looks gorgeous. It has a fantastic hood and is a very ornamental looking fish.
Oranda: Like the Lionhead, the Oranda also has a large hood that encircles its entire face. Not as pretty as the Lionhead in my opinion.
Telescope Eyed: A much darker color of Goldfish, the Telescope Eyed Goldfish has protruding eyes that make it very unusual looking to say the least.
Panda Moor: This one does’nt even look like your usual Goldfish. A very unusual looking fish in general which has a large split fantail and protruding eyes.
Veiltail: This is a gorgeous fish that has a long swishy tail.
The coolest thing concerning Goldfish is their versatility. They can be kept in small fish bowls, larger tanks as well as ponds and small lakes. There has been some confusion in relation to Goldfish memory spans. They’ve got a memory span of a few months instead of a small number of seconds as originally thought. They will get used to their feeders and will eventually come and feed from your hand.
Goldfish are known to like small shrimp and other crustaceans. They can be given especially formulated food that you can get from your pet store. Try to not overfeed your fish. Kids especially need to be intructed on exactly how much to feed their fish as they can easily become bloated.
Remember to hold a close watch on the vigor of your fish. Watch out for signs of overfeeding or listless behavior and try to find problems before they get bad. Keep the fish tank away from direct sunlight as modifications in temperature may adversely affect the healh of the fish. Goldfish make excellent pets.
[Top]Having Leopard Geckos As House Pets
What kind of pet you are looking for? Have you ever thought about a gecko? You will find different kind of geckos but there is only one which is perfect as a house pet.
If you have seen pictures of leopard geckos, you are probably aware of what beautiful reptiles they are. Because of the work of breeders, leopard geckos come in an astonishing array of colours and patterns, from tangerine orange all the way to black and white striped, and many of these are quite striking creatures. I have been breeding reptiles for years and years now, and let me tell you: leopard geckos are some of my very favourite. This is not just because of their striking appearance, however. It is because they make such great pets.
Many people complain that reptiles are lousy pets. They feel that snakes and lizards are bad tempered, unaffectionate, dull, and boring company. For many of these creatures, this is true. They are simply not very easy to socialize, and are at best indifferent to humans. But the leopard gecko is different. Leopard geckos, if they are brought up among humans for their whole lives, are friendly, affectionate creatures who are really quite easy to get along with for anyone. They are pretty easy to care for as long as you remember a few basic facts about them. All leopard geckos must receive adequate, but not excessive warmth. Leopard geckos also must be fed daily with insects, and the like, and have enough space to move around. Finally, leopard geckos must not be left all by themselves. They technically can survive by themselves, but as a leopard gecko breeder, I can tell you that they are much happier when they have company. Really, leopard geckos do best when raised in groups of two or more, but even human companionship will help keep your pet happy. And a happy pet is a healthy pet.
If you are thinking of getting leopard geckos, there are a few things that you must consider first. They are not cute in the traditional sense, and so if your idea of a perfect pet is something soft that you can pet at your convenience, then the leopard gecko is right out. Although they are fairly affectionate lizards, if you are looking for some creature that will be overjoyed every single time that you enter the room, ditch the leopard geckos in favour of a nice golden retriever. But, if you are a lizard person, you probably already know it. If your idea of a nice pet is an interesting pet, then leopard geckos might be just the thing for you. I hope you already made your choice; you will never find a friendlier house pet than a gecko.
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