["we manufacture everything in Hereford, TX."]

Hi everyone.  Thanks for your emails to Merrick, etc.  I wish I could believe what the customer service rep, Toni, has said.  But, I'm having trouble with it.  Here is one reason why:

Toni said, "we manufacture everything in Hereford, TX."  She then said, "There is a Merrick family member who is an investor in an outside rendering facility; however, the facility is not located in the same city as our manufacturing facilities."

Well, according to this yellow pages listing, Both Hereford Services (the location I have called many times and was told they both pick up dead animals and make pet food) and the transportation dept of Tejas Industries are located in Hereford, Texas.

http://yellowpages.superpages.com/listings.jsp?SRC=portals&T=Hereford&S=TX&PS=22&PP=N&STYPE=S&L=Hereford+TX&CP=Industry+%26+Agriculture&F=1&refine=Services%3ARendering%3B

Hereford Services
Services: Rendering
Categories: Agricultural Producers & Products,  Animal Rescue & Relocation Services,  Animals Transport Services

110 Merrick Lane, Hereford, TX 79045
(806) 364-0951

Why can't people just be honest?  If she had said, yes there is a rendering plant located next door, but we don't use any rendered products in our pet food, then I would be inclined to believe her.  But when I find out a company is being dishonest about one simple thing, I wonder why.  And I wonder what else they are hiding.

About the article "everything but the moo" - Yes, I agree Garth Merrick was probably only talking about the treats in that article.

I'm still holding off on feeding my baby the Merrick I have left.

Sylvia - Thank you for this recipe.  Since I've been home cooking for my Yorkie, she has been missing her treats.  This one looks like a real winner.

Cookiesweetie - On the Pecos Enterprise article, there are several unrelated articles on the web page.  The Merrick article is the 4th article.  http://www.pecos.net/news/arch2001/021301o.htm

1st article - Marriage inTV land
2nd article - Constitutional Minute
3rd article - Maxey park colors
4th article - Pet toys from Hereford's used cow dealer - This is it.

Cindy - You are right about it being father and son.  It is possible that Tyler (son) has different views about what should go into a pet food than his father does.  I hope so.

One thing that still bothers me is the fact that the first time I called Tejas Industries, the man who answered the phone told me that the same exact ingredients are put into Beef'n More (49 cents per can) as Merrick 5 star, when I was paying $2.00 a can for what I thought was a special premium food.

After they told Cookiesweetie the ingredients were different, I decided to call again this morning.  This time, another man who answered the phone did not say "plant phone" when he answered.  Instead he said "County Services".  I said "what?  Is this the rendering plant?"  He told me it was, but that he was the guy in charge of scheduling the pick up of dead/dying animals.  When I asked him about the pet food, he said he could not tell me anything and that I would have to talk to the pet food customer service people.  I asked him what they do with the animals he picks up.  He said they are rendered and the bones are used in fertilizer and the tallow (fat) is sold as grease.  I asked him what they do with the meat.  He said they get rid of it.  He would not tell me how they get rid of it.  I asked if they put it in the pet food and he said no.  Because this guy sounded so different in his anwers than the first guy, I wonder if they have been told what to say now.  I hope this second guy was telling the truth.

I wish someone else on the board would call too and see what kind of answers they get.

I guess right now, I'm just scared.  I have 11 cans of Grammies Pot Pie sitting in my pantry gathering dust.  Since I found all this out, I have been cooking for my Yorkie instead of feeding any commercial food.

Hi cookiesweetie.  I'm not sure what to think.  When I called Tejas Industries, the man I talked to was very forthcoming about giving me the information - Unitl I mentioned 4D animals, then his attitude changed and he didn't want to talk anymore.  He told me the beef in both Merrick and Beef'n More was the same beef.

One thing I know for sure, Tejas Industries is a rendering plant.  According to the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Garth Merrick is the president and sole owner.  Tejas Industries is the parent  and holding company to Merrick Pet Care.  These facts are easily documented.

Here is a quote from the Texas Business Report:
"Tejas Industries, the holding company for Merrick Pet Care, is investing about $900,000 in a 35,000-square-foot shipping facility next to its manufacturing plant in HEREFORD."  http://www.texasbusinessreport.com/newexpandedmanufacturers.html

Who knows whether or not they use 4D animals in their pet food.  It's very possible they don't.  But what do they do with all the meat they pick up?  Do they throw it away?

Also, I wonder why Garth Merrick tried to convince the FDA to allow him to use SRMs (Specific Risk Materials - Materials known to transfer mad cow disease) in pet foods.  https://web01.aphis.usda.gov/regpublic.nsf/168556f5aa7a82ba85256ed00044eb1f/b5773ca9a76035d487256edf00540410/Body/M2?OpenElement

I want to believe Merrick pet food is the best, healthiest pet food on the planet.  I want to believe Garth Merrick is the most honest, ethical person ever born.  After all, I fed tons of this stuff to my Yorkie.  However, with everything I've found out, and what I was told by the Tejas employee, I just can not, in my heart, trust this company.

If you feel you can trust them, then do so.  I hope they are as wonderful as they claim to be.

I don't want to be responsible for harming the reputation of a company who is doing things right - (only using the highest quality meats, etc.)  However, I also don't want to be responsible for feeding my pet something that might hurt them or cause them health problems.  I personally do not know what exactly goes into Merrick pet food.  I have never been there and have not seen their operation.  I only made my original post because I felt people should be aware of the stuff I had uncovered.  I believe knowledge is power.  The more we know, the better decisions we can make for our pets.

Ally - I apologize if I hurt your feelings.  That was Not my intention.

Hi cookiesweetie.  I don't think we can find out 100% for sure.  They won't tell you.  You can call them, but they will himhaw around that question.  I have called them.

Tejas Industries
Plant Phone # (806) 364-0951

I also found out they have a service (company name Hereford Services, same telephone number) that will come out to people's farms and pick up dead or dying animals.

If you call the number on the Merrick Pet Foods website and start asking questions, you will be transfered to a woman named Ruby.  I talked to her and she denied knowing anything about a rendering plant.  How can you not know when the building is adjacent to the building you work in?  Same address, 110 Merrick Lane.  If she had just been honest, I would feel better about their company.  But if they try to hide something that is so easy to find out, what else are they hiding?

Also, here is a direct quote from Garth Merrick that appeared in the Pecos Enterprise:
Merrick uses the things that are not fit for human consumption. "So we do the tails and ears the noses and the chins and the hooves and different bones," says Garth Merrick, president of the company. "It's all processed in such a way that is totally sanitary and safe for anything that would eat it. We're in the middle of cattle country, of course, so it's our hope to continue to utilize everything but the moo."
The url for this article is http://www.pecos.net/news/arch2001/021301o.htm  You have to scroll down to the Pet Toys article.

4D animals are allowed by the FDA to be used in pet food.  For information on this, you can call FDA Vet, Randall Lovell - (240) 453-6857

To be safe, I no longer feed Merrick.  I'm not intested in feeding my Yorkie "Everything but the Moo".

You just have to decide what you personally feel is best for your pet.

ally:
I Never said vets were bad.  If you will read my post, in the very first sentence, I said, "I'm sure your vet friend is a good doctor."  That being said, even my own personal vet, who has a wealth of medical knowledge, admitted to me that she, along with most vets, do not study much in the way of nutrition.  It's like the food pyramid for people.  We've all been told for decades to eat according to the pyramid.  However, we are now finding out that too many carbs can lead to diabetes, obesity, etc.

When I said research, I meant find some scientic information that proves more carbs are better for dogs than meat protein.

I don't doubt you have had dogs that were sick in the past and made a turnaround.  So have I.  I had a mixed breed dog that was fed a commercial dry food before I got him.  I stupidly continued the food, a premium brand.  He was overweight and had allergies and skin problems.  Finally, when he was 10 years old, after trying all kinds of vitamins, etc., I decided to make a complete change.  I switched him to a premium food that had a higher protein content and added hamgurger, chicken, salmon, eggs, and yogurt to his diet.  His allergies went away and his skin and coat became healthy and lusterous.  He died last year at the age of 18.  He wasn't sick.  He was happily playing with his toys the night before.  He just went to sleep and never woke up.  Have you ever wondered what caused your dog to get cancer?

Anyway, I didn't mean to "spew" at you.  I never meant to sound hateful.  You are right, I don't know you.  I'm sure you are a very nice person who loves their pets very much.  But it is pure common sense that meat protein is better for dogs than carbs.  This goes for any dog.  Old, young, whatever.

I challenge you to prove me wrong using scientific information that can be verified.

I would just hate for a pet owner to feed their pet a diet of 58% carbs and end up with a sick pet.  That's why I posted.

Hi ally.  I'm sure your vet friend is a good doctor, however, I strongly disagree with her nutrition suggestions.

I have just finished reading the following books:
Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to natural Health For Dogs & Cats, 3rd Edition
The Whole Pet Diet - Andi Brown
The Goldsteins' Wellness & Longevity Program

All three of these highly respected authors (2 are DVM's) agree that Protein should make up 75% of a dog or cats diet.

In the wild, do you think carbohydrates make up 58% of a canine's diet?  Impossible.  If you feed that many carbs, all you will end up with is a lethargic overweight pet.

Please do your research before you take a vet's or anyone else's opinion.  Including me.  Research what I've posted.  See if you can prove me wrong.

To be honest, it sounds like your vet is friends with the pet food companies who use corn as the main ingredient in their food.  How many farmers do you know who put up "scaredogs" to keep the canines out of their corn fields?

What do coyotes, wolves, and feral dogs eat?  Answer - protein.

Hi willyagogo.  Love your screen name!  I don't know anything about "missing link", but I am giving my Yorkie a supplement called Nupro.  The ingredients are all natural.  If you want to find out more about this supplement, the web address is www.nuprosupplements.com.  I don't work for their company or anything, I just like their product.

Hi karatemom.  Once the salmon goes through the food processor, you can't tell it ever had bones in it.  The food comes out with a pate consistancy.  Or, if you leave more water in, it will be an applesauce consistancy.  My Yorkie doesn't like a lot of water in it.

I don't want to upset anyone, but I used to feed my dog Merrick, and have stopped.

Do a little research on a company called Tejas Industries and you will begin to see why.  I called the "plant" telephone number for Tejas Industries and talked to a supervisor working out in the plant.  I asked him if they made pet food and he said yes.  I asked which brands they make and he told me they make both Merrick 5 Star and Beef'n More pet food.  He said they use the same ingredients in both foods.  Beef'n More is a food that sells at Sam's Club for 49 cents for a large can.  Tejas Industries is a rendering plant owned by Garth Merrick.  You do the math.

Here's a recipe I just started making for my very picky Yorkie and she loves it.

Healthy Dog Stew
4 - Boneless Chicken Breasts (Provides Protein)
1 - 14oz Can Salmon with Bones & Skin (Provides Protein & Omega Fatty Acids for healthy skin & coat, Bones Provide Calcium)
1/2 - Bag Frozen Sliced Carrots (Vitamin A)
1/2 - Bag Frozen Green Beans (Vitamin C, Iron)
1/2 - Bag Frozen Broccoli (Vitamin C)
6 - Hard Boiled Eggs (Save the Shells - They are Calcium Carbonate)

In large stock pot, combine chicken breasts, carrots, green beans, and broccoli.  Add enough water to cover.  Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes until water is mostly reduced and chicken tears apart easily.  Add salmon and heat through.  Remove stew from heat.  Peel and chop eggs.  Add chopped eggs to stew, stir.  Grind egg shells to a powder using a coffee grinder.  Add shell powder to stew, stir.  Using a food processor, grind stew into a puree on high speed.  Refrigerate enough food to last 2-3 days and freeze the rest in portion size containers or freezer bags.

Cindy - I don't want to upset you, but I used to feed my dog Merrick, and have stopped.

Do a little research on a company called Tejas Industries and you will begin to see why.  I called the "plant" telephone number for Tejas Industries and talked to a supervisor working out in the plant.  I asked him if they made pet food and he said yes.  I asked which brands they make and he told me they make both Merrick 5 Star and Beef'n More pet food.  He said they use the same ingredients in both foods.  Beef'n More is a food that sells at Sam's Club for 49 cents for a large can.  Tejas Industries is a rendering plant owned by Garth Merrick.  You do the math.