Consider This Before Feeding Merrick

[Javas Mom]

My only concern is....those 3 million chickens that were fed the tainted food - could they be ending up in pet food as well?  They say it's low risk to humans (BS if you ask me.. they just don't know!) but we DO KNOW the effect it has on cats and dogs.  So that would be my only concern at this point.

This concern really struck home with me, too, but I read something today in a CNN article that made sense and offered a little more reassurance. 
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/05/02/pet.food.poultry/

The spokesman for the Natl. Chicken Council said the chicken feed may have been contaminated as a result of a practice common among pet food manufacturers -- they sometimes sell their leftover material to manufacturers of chicken and pig feed.

"It's like cooking cupcakes -- you get some of the dough on the pan, you scrape it off and throw it away. What they're saying is that somebody bought that material and it got mixed in corn and soybean that gets manufactured in poultry feed," he said.

"The dilution factor is enormous. You have a relatively small amount of pet food byproducts used," Lobb said. "It's a safe and wholesome product to use."

That being the case, it sounds like the melamine exposure to a chicken was more diluted than what was in those cans of poisened pet food, so let's pray that's a realistic picture.

[Desiree]

In response to the pet treats, years ago when I lived in the Midwest, it was quite common to go into most any vet clinic or feed place and find dried pig ears and other products such as those. I remember purchasing the pig ears for my dogs. They loved them and chewed on them for hours. It seems to me that what Merrick has done is go a few steps further with making a line of additional pet treats out of products that we don't typically think of using.

I've had my skeptism about Merrick, but I have one really picky kitty that will only eat the Evanger's turkey which I haven't been able to get all the time without having it shipped. I don't think she likes the chicken because of the liver.  So out of desperation, I tried some Merrick samples when they had a rep at my local pet store. It has been the only cat food that I've halfway trusted that my picky baby will eat. She prefers dry food and the one she likes, California Natural Chicken and Rice, is one I feel fairly good about, but my preference is for her to eat some canned.

My other two kitties will eat any Evangers without any problem, but I can tell the turkey is their favorite along with anything from Merrick.

[mshomo]

Toni's statement "It is totally illegal for any dog food company to use rendered materials in their products." still bothers me. We all know it's not illegal.

Cindy said "maybe she means that since their stuff is human-grade and USDA and all...that it's illegal for them". But, Toni doesn't seem to be talking just in reference to Merrick because she states "any dog food company".

I would like to find a wet food for my cats but, that just bothers me. I guess I'm too paranoid these days!

[tahitigirl]

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.

[Cindy Nevarez]

I'm telling you......it's dirty family laundry, and they don't want to talk about it.

[bixlo]

I'm waiting for Toni to reply to my comment about the rendering plant and the facilities being in the same area.  Regardless though, I trust what's in there.  The dogs and cats love the food and it doesn't look like what I would think dead and diseased looks like.  It's entire chicken thighs in there.  And like someone pointed out earlier -  because of the entire clipped wings and clips being found in the food recall they had in 2005 - only kosher chickens get their wings clipped.  So I don't buy that dead and diseased animals are going into the food.  I'm continuing to feed the cats the wet food and the dogs are getting Merrick and Evangers wet.

[Mary K]

Hi, everyone, I am so glad you have Merrick's to count on! I bought 6 cans at the beginning of the recall. I would love to let my 3 cats try a few. They are Turduckin and Thanksgiving Dnner. I would love you all for giving me the best-by dates/lot # on the cans you have safely fed. Thank you!!

[garypen]

Turducken 5.5OZ Cans

Best by DEC 07 09
2C5TKN G 06341 1733

[Mary K]

Thank you, Garypen, Where have you been? I missed you!!

[Desiree]

I have some additional new dates of Merrick as well. Let me know if you would like me to post them after I use them.

Thanksgiving Day 5.5 oz

Best by Oct 20 09
2CSTDO H 06293 0213H

Turducken 5.5 oz

Best by Oct 19 09
2CSTKN A 06292 0809H

New England Boil 5.5 oz

Best by Oct 20 09
2CSNE E 06293 1153H

Ocean Breeze 5.5 oz

Best by Oct 13 09
2CSUB F 06286 2202H

[Mary K]

Desiree, Thank you too. I have had my 6 cans a while. My Best By date  is Oct 07  09. It is pretty silly, but I have a fear/phobia of feeding a canned food, now. Those original stories and images just stuck to my poor overloaded brain. I am so glad this is working for so many. I wish the Merricks would saddle up, ride on over here and blog around the campfire with us for a spell so we could get to know them.   

[Desiree]

I understand how you feel Mary K. Honestly, it has taken a lot for me to come to terms with trying both the Evangers and Merrick, but they have both been working so far. Every day I read everything new and watch my cats like a hawk for anything different. I even measure how much water is left in their dishes so I know how much they are drinking as well as monitoring their litter boxes. What I can say is that compared to what my vet had my fur babies eating before, I know their health has improved and the food has proven to be safe so far.

When it came to making my decision on what to feed, I spent over 2 weeks researching and reading blogs before I made a choice. Even then I still felt some apprehension and hoped with everything in me that I was making the best possible selections. At the same time, I still hold my breath as soon as I see an e-mail come through that says recall in the subject line.  As for having 100% trust, I don't. But I had to take a leap of faith and put some trust in someone, or make my own. Since making my own didn't seem like something I would keep up with, I had to make a choice.

When it comes to fears, I think we have all had various types of fears since this entire nightmare began. Though they may vary from person to person, I don't think any of them are silly. And it takes time to get past the fears. I wish you luck in trying to decide whether to move forward with feeding the Merrick food to your 3 kitties or trying something else.  I'll check to see if I have any food dated Oct 07 09 and I'll let you know.

[Mary K]

Deiree, Thank you for kind words and encouragement. I have those cans sitting on the counter. I keep thinking "Everything but the moo" and imagining I open one up and get a loud Moooo!     

[Cindy Nevarez]

LOL !

[garypen]

But...It's everything but the moo.

But, seriously, if you take Menu, ANI, and the mainstream canned foods out of the picture, that only leaves Merrick and Evangers-made products, as far as I can tell. And, I wasn't happy with Evangers or Felidae. So, that leaves Merrick for me.

If there turns out to be a problem with Merrick, I may be forced to go all dry. I am already thinking of mixing Evo and CalNat for increased meat/decreased carb. Unfortunately, all-dry creates its own problems. Most notably, lack of water. (One of my cats doesn't drink water AT ALL. She apparently gets all of her water from the canned food.)

So, I'm also conidering something like Sheba. It's from a mainstream brand, Mars. But, it has the moisture they need to ingest with their foods, high meat, and low/no carb. Check out this ingredient list: Water, Chicken Breast, Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum. That's it. It's not complete and balenced. But, as an adjunct to a dry balanced food, it should be OK. (Analysis: Protein 13% min, Fiber 0.4% max, Fat 0.3% min, Moisture 85% max. )

Of course, this is only if something bad is discovered about Merrick.