Had an encounter with a dog food Nazi. Yikes!

[Critters2]

I mentioned, naively, to a sibling of a parishioner, at coffee hour, that my dog eats kibble. Somehow, the conversation came around to what we feed our dogs. I said the beagle gets Natural Balance or Natural Life dry dog foods. :nuke: Apparently, I'm going to hell for pouring my dog's food out of a bag!

Dog class is full of this type, so when they start talking about BARF and Raw food and whatnot, I just sit politely by and listen. I don't mind the way they feed their dogs, but I don't want to mess with raw meat (:puke:), when there are knowledgeable people making dog food. Hell, if Purina really made "Bachelor Chow", I'd eat that! And not judge all of you people who cook! :)

[JVS]

1. One of the biggest reasons why I would be reluctant to become a member of the clergy is that I'd...

have to deal with people.

[Critters2]

2. It is the great challenge of this vocation.

People. :grr:

[JVS]

3. That's probably how monasticism got its start.

[Critters2]

4. LOL! No doubt!

:)

[flvegan]

5. They always sound like idiots to me.

I'm not a fan of 75% of the commercial pet food out there, but it's easy to find a quality product.

[Critters2]

7. I have become wise enough not to drop the V word around these kinds.

If they hate kibble, they'll REALLY hate veg*n kibble!!!

[Mike 03]

6. In a sense, yes.

I was talked into buying a pretty expensive food for my dog, which I don't mind because it's actually full of good products, and no CORN.

But I've started buying organic canned food for my dog too, which is 250% more than what I spend on canned food for myself, like organic kidney beans, organic refried beans, black, pinto, etc...

I don't really regret this, but I'm just sort of amazed.

My last two dogs died of cancer, so I'm just trying to my new dog the best I can.

[Critters2]

9. My first dog lived to be 15, which is quite good for a cocker.

I had her through the leanest years of my life, during which she ate Purina Mainstay, which any of the dog food afficionados will tell you is complete crap. But she liked it and did well on it, and I could afford it at the time.

My first cat, whom I attained while in grad school, ate an awful lot of grocery store house brand kibble when I was a struggling student. He lived to be 19, and never went to the vet for anything but yearly check-ups until he was 17.

I wouldn't feed any of those options now, but they don't seem to have done any harm. I really think exercise and attention are as important as nutrition, or nearly so, in keeping an animal healthy.

Again, I don't judge those who make pet food a spending priority, or who cook for their pets. It's just not a choice I've made.

[Mike 03]

10. I'm so happy your animals have lived such long, good lives. That is fantastic.

Your love for them probably makes up for any lack of "special" food.

I hope maybe my luck will change for the better.

Take care!

[Critters2]

12. Sadly, something will take them sooner or later.

Even with their long lives, the dog that I mentioned died of cancer of the spleen, and the cat of liver failure caused by hyperthyroidism. But they did so after good, long lives.

[Mike 03]

8. By the way, nobody should ever attack you for feeding your dog what you can manage to feed him/her.

Love is the major thing. If you give your dog that, and I am sure you do, no one should be pressuring you.

The food thing is optional.

As my favorite friend, who was a volunteer with me at an animal shelter said, "Dogs don't need a perfect yard or perfect food, they need a person."

Dogs want to belong to a pack, and you seem like a great pack leader.

[Critters2]

11. When I fostered cats for the Humane Society, all of their food

was donated. The vast majority of that was from Wal-Mart, who gave local shelters their broken bags. They were really generous, enough that they distributed some every day, with each shelter being assigned a day to pick up food. All of my fosters ate the donated food--usually Purina or Whiskas, but sometimes Wal-Mart house brands. Of course, this was before the big recall. I don't know whether they're still using this system...I should ask some time. But two of my fosters, Sophia and Shamu, became my adoptees. Sophia had a bout of pancreatitis last year, which I suspect may have been from contaminated Science Diet (she's now on Wysong), but Shamu has never had a health problem, besides being a bit portly.

I think you're right...care and affection are a huge part of it. Being part of a pack, even if that pack eats kibble. :)

[trof]

13. "Dogs don't need a perfect yard or perfect food, they need a person."

Great quote.
And the person doesn't have to be perfect either.
They'll love you anyway.
:-)