Friday, January 8, 2016

JBS USA launches CoppersClassics.com

JBS USA has launched CoppersClassics.com, an interactive website that highlights its premium pet chew program. The website serves as a resource for consumers who desire all-natural, American-made dog chews.
“With more than 83 million Americans owning at least one dog, there is a growing demand for all-natural, American-made and sourced dog chews,” said Rebecca Greene, pet development manager at JBS USA. “CoppersClassics.com provides an exciting opportunity to reach this growing consumer base and provide additional selling resources for our valued customers.”
Consumers continuously ask for all-natural, American-made products for their four-legged friends. Copper’s Classics fulfills that desire by delivering single-ingredient, minimally processed treats with raw materials obtained solely from USA-harvested animals.
“Throughout website development, we focused on presenting the attributes of our USA-made and processed pet chew program in a fun and interactive way,” Greene said. “The website provides our clientele access to our online store, which allows them to order a variety of chews for their homes and stores.”

Thursday, January 7, 2016

RECALL: Big Dog Natural recalls 2 kinds of raw dehydrated dog food

Chicken Supreme potentially contaminated with Salmonella, Fish Supreme potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

Big Dog Natural of Brick, New Jersey, USA, is voluntary recalling a select production lot of Big Dog Natural raw dehydrated dog food Chicken Supreme potentially contaminated with Salmonella and Fish Supreme potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes that was shipped in the week of 10/31/2015 to 11/13/2015 to online customers. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
These products were sold directly to consumers through the company’s online website and in the US. The voluntarily recalled product include all weight volumes of the Big Dog Natural Chicken and Fish Supreme. No additional products are affected by this recall.
Big Dog Natural became aware of a potential issue after receiving notification from the FDA that an investigational sample of Chicken Supreme tested positive for Salmonella and an investigational sample of Fish Supreme for Listeria monocytogenes.
Pets with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care providers.
Consumers should discontinue feeding the affected product and monitor their pet's health, and contact their veterinarian if they have concerns. Consumers who purchased the product can obtain a full refund or exchange by returning the product in its original packaging.
Consumers with questions should visit Big Dog Natural’s website or call +1.732.785.2600 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. EST.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Pet ownership saves US$11.7 billion in health care costs

The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) Foundation has announced the findings of a new economic study on the health care cost savings associated with pet ownership. The economic analysis, conducted by two researchers from George Mason University, calculated an US$11.7 billion savings in US health care costs as a result of pet ownership.
“There was abundant research to show that pets have a positive effect on our health, but this is the first time that anyone has looked at the impact on the US health care system,” said study co-author Terry L. Clower, PhD northern Virginia chair and professor of public policy at George Mason University’s School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs and director of its Center on Regional Analysis. “Our analysis shows that pet ownership produces meaningful savings for total health care costs in the United States.”
“Thinking about things that people should do to maintain their health, ‘get a pet’ belongs on that list,” said HABRI Executive Director Steven Feldman. “When health insurance companies are looking at wellness incentives to keep costs down, pet ownership provides another way for people to stay healthy and save money.”
The largest savings was determined based on a lower incidence of physician office visits by pet owners as compared to non-owners. According to the study, 132.8 million pet owners in the United States visit a doctor 0.6 times less than the average non-pet owners. The average cost of a physician office visit is US$139. Pet owners, in this way, were responsible for saving US$11.37 billion in US health care costs.
Additional savings were calculated for dog owners who walk their dog five or more times a week. This group, totaling more than 20 million people, shows a lower incidence of obesity, and were responsible for saving US$419 million in related health care costs.
While additional health benefits associated with pet ownership have been documented by scientific research, the economists were unable to determine specific cost data associated with those findings. Researchers looked at scientific studies showing a positive impact from pet ownership on infection control, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cholesterol, allergies, stress, blood pressure and psychological issues, and concluded that further economic data was necessary before health care savings could be calculated. According to the report, “because this analysis is limited and conservative, the health care cost savings associated with pet ownership is likely to be even greater.”
“As HABRI continues to fund human-animal bond research, we will look for ways to measure specific economic variables that measure additional health care cost savings,” Clower added.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Nestle opens Purina pet food plant in Mexico

Nestle has completed a new US$220 million pet food factory in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico.
The new plant – the company’s 15th in Mexico – is part of the company’s US$1.03 billion four-year investment program for Mexico.
The Purina factory will produce 130,000 tonnes of dry pet food annually. A second, future phase could add a new production line for wet food. Forty percent of the plant’s current output will be exported to Central America and the Caribbean.
The plant will employ 200 people directly and another 1,000 indirectly. Nestle Executive Vice President Laurent Freixe said the factory would generate MXN750 million (US$43.4 million) annually.
Nestle Mexico’s CEO, Marcelo Melchior, predicted the new facility will allow Nestle to overtake Mars Mexico, its main competitor.
Mexico is the fourth leading producer of animal feed after China, the US and Brazil.

Monday, January 4, 2016

Freshpet helps shelter pets with holiday video

Social media star Marnie the dog stars in Freshpet’s holiday video as head elf in Santa’s workshop.
The 13-year-old Shih Tzu is joined by other dogs and cats in elf costumes with human hands making and wrapping toys and treats for pets on Marnie’s nice list. The list includes other Internet pet stars such as Doug the Pug, Lil Bub, Hamilton the hipster cat and Mishka the talking Husky. Denver the guilty dog and Princess Monster Truck appear on the naughty list.
At lunchtime, the dog elves dine on Freshpet’s food.
The video, from Los Angeles-based Shareability, was shot in Salt Lake City, Utah, and will also help feed shelter animals. Freshpet will donate one meal to a shelter pet for every share of the video.