A Community Forum Re: Pet Nutrition Friday, May 18th!

[Therese]

Thanks, willy! I'm so glad to hear people were actually given the chance to talk about their experiences. It sounds like there were a lot of people there who care! I hope the next forum is even bigger and better!

[mel_t]

A little late getting back here but just wanted to say it was nice meeting and talking to Willyagogo, Kathleen and her friend. 

Also present at the meeting, I'm told, were reps from the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) and one of the co-authors of the following article from VIN, Cory Haggart:
Pet Food & Nutrition: A Necessary Review For Veterinarians

There was also a spy representative from Hill's there, he sat in the back and took notes, but not a peep. he left after Dr. H. was finished speaking.

I finally got to meet my hero Dr. Hodgkins, unfortunately not for very long, as there was not much time.  I owe one of my cats' life to her - it was her diabetic treatment protocol that saved her.  I cannot say enough good things about her...she is one special lady.  I call her an angel on earth for cats.

[mel_t]

by the way, here's a handout of Dr. Hodgkins' talk:

http://www.freewebs.com/petfoodcampaign/hodgkinspetforum.htm

[willyagogo]

Hi mel t!!

Great meeting you too!!!

Btw....I didn't realize we had so many..."special"...visitors at the forum last Friday!!! How very interesting!!!.......

I think I know which "representative" (ahem....)....from Hill's you were talking about!..I remember a tall guy leaving from the back long before everyone else..bet it was the same guy you're talking about!

And reps from the CFIA???....omg!!...That's hilarious!....They must have loved all the information that Olivia Chow brought to the table regarding regulating petfood!!....That's wonderful!...

Glad to hear from you....it has REALLY brought a smile to my face hearing all this juicy stuff!!!!.......    

[Cindy Nevarez]

Ha!

The Hills guy is probably on assignment to try to find a way to Bait and Switch all their old customers back into their Clutches of Death.

[Cindy Nevarez]

Thanks for the link Mel.

[mel_t]

Ha!

The Hills guy is probably on assignment to try to find a way to Bait and Switch all their old customers back into their Clutches of Death.

yeah, when he called to register, he actually tried to warn the woman organizing that "you could have all those BARF people coming up and telling people to feed their pets raw" 

Also, Hills have hired a PR firm, and then the PR firm subsequently phoned to try to get some more of there vets in there, but she basically told him where to go.

[Cindy Nevarez]

Good!

[Kathleen]

Well, I certainly hope that the HILL'S  REP got an earful on Friday night. There were some very upset pet owners there that night.  Good for Dr. Hodgkins she told it the way it was. With her background no one could query her message.  I am sorry that the Vets did not come --they need to understand that from now on their advice  about animal food does not come directly from GOD. I am sick of being told that only IAMS, EUKANUBA, SCIENCE DIET kibble  etc. should be my first choice.
                                     Kathleen

[Cindy Nevarez]

That's just it...many vets don't like to be "told" anything from their clients. It hurts their ego, pride, feelings....whatever. I'm very pro-active about health issues regarding both my animal and people family. I find that many of both kinds of doctors are bristled on many levels if you question the authenticity of what they say.

So, instead of listening to you, they tune it out, and consequently never learn anything from their clients. It's a sad state of affairs.

[willyagogo]

Hello Everybody!!!!

Sorry I haven't been corresponding on here too much lately!.....This week has been crazy for me!

Just thought I'd take a couple of minutes to let you guys know that I haven't fallen off the planet!...

Regarding Vets not being at the Forum.....I know my Vet was planning on going....don't know what happened. But I did notice that there was a young lady who was asking some questions about better testing (maybe mel & Kathleen will recall her).......anyways, my guess is that she was a University student, probably from Guelph.....just a guess!

If that's the case, then hopefully we have some "Vets of the Future"....taking in the issues that need dealing with.....such as Dr. Hodgkin's ideas for for more stringent testing of Petfoods as well as the labeling concerns.

I wish I'd have known about this Hill's guy before going....if it's the guy that I'm thinking it was, I would have kept an eye on him for reactions and posturing to what was being said that night...

BTW.....mel.....I'm glad Carol told him where to go! KUDOS to her!!!!!!....

Hope everyone and their fur-babies are doing great!!!....I'll be back!...