New Board Suggestions

[Therese]

If you have suggestions for boards that you'd like to see let me know.

[Mary K]

How about one at the very top of the boards for "New Recalls" that will be left there for , say, 48 hours, then removed. Sort of a first line notification of foods added to the recall list where people won't miss them. And maybe a flashing red alert symbol to catch our attention. Thanks, Therese!

[Therese]

Great idea, Mary! I added the new board under the Recall Related Information section.

Therese

[garypen]

Does this board software allow for uploading photos? I know it takes up hard drive space, and bandwidth when they are viewed. But, it would add a special new dimension to the Pet Memorial forum if folks could add pics of their beloved deceased friends.

[Therese]

Hi Gary, it only allows for uploading of images board wide, not by specific boards. If I could do it just for the memorial pets I would. If people want to post images they can though...they just can't upload them to this site.

I'll post instructions on the memorial board letting people know how to do this.

[SunHawk]

This may be tough to do accurately, and is probably a HUGE project, but would it be possible to have a separate board/section entitled "Manufacturers", along with sub-headings for Menu Foods, American Nutrition, Tejas (Merrick), and the other actual manufacturers that have been uncovered, and then have the brands each one makes listed in sub-headings?  For it to be useful, it would need to be limited to "just the facts" - no commentary; think outline format.  A lot of the info is at PetFoodList , but that is organized by brand name.  And more info is scattered throughout the forums and at Itchmo.  With so many people not trusting *anything* from Menu and ANI, especially in light of tonight's news about cross-contamination, a board organized by manufacturer could be very useful. 

[Therese]

Hi there,

This is actually something I'm working on. I plan on adding it to The Pet Food List main website. I need to verify some of the info though because I know some of the pet food companies are saying they're no longer going to use the manufacturer that they've been using. 

[chicas]

Happy Mother's Day Therese! 

THANK YOU for all your time, energy, accuracy, and dedication!   

an idea that came to me:  what do you think of a board to post the responses people have gotten from companies?

i.e., since people are writing to companies for info:  when/IF we receive their response, we could copy/paste it here.  hopefully without discussion so it's easier to sort through. 

for example, someone sent a letter to a supplement company and received, imo, an evasive letter that didn't address the letter's concerns.  if we post only our letter and the company responses (dated) in a separate board, especially without discussion, it might be easier for each person to make their own conclusion with what step they want to take next with that particular company.  it would be better than people posting their interpretation of a response.

would it be possible to somehow make a statement or if there is something in the software (i don't know computer tech) that would discourage editing, make the poster accountable, etc, anything so that only the poster is held liable...    maybe the statement you've already made about liability is enough   i also don't know legalities...

what do you think of having one thread for cat food, another for dog food, another for supplements, etc...  and/or could we have a thread for each company, especially if their is no way of limiting discussion.

thanks again!  maria

Disclaimer:     BEFORE i get reactions:  I believe discussions are GOOD.  And, I believe, like everything, there is a time a place...  when i'm trying to get "just the facts, please", it sometimes becomes difficult sorting thru the discussions; i get caught up reading and before i know it, it's 3 a.m.   

[Therese]

Let me think about this one. It might be best to just list the letters under the pet food the letter pertains to. I do know what you mean about not having a lot of discussion but there isn't a way to not allow that. I'm afraid if we just have one location for letters they may get overlooked if somebody is looking for info on a particular pet food. They may not think to check out the generic letter board.

Maybe what would be best is for people to simply start a new thread under the pet food company that sent them the letter. If it started with LETTER: brand x or something like that it would stand out. What do you think?

[Davis]

I agree that posting the letters in the forum for the particular food they pertain to is the perfect place for them. I always like to read the comments, so I personally wouldn't want them minimized, but for those who don't want to read them and find them distracting, they can just skip over them. Usuallly the letter is posted at the beginning of the thread, so the comments can be ignored. And if the poster puts any successive letters within the same thread into quote boxes, it's usually pretty easy to scroll and find them without reading everything. But threads can be somewhat difficult to sort through at times, so the point is well taken. 

If a thread gets too long, a new one can be started so that it's not to difficult to find any additional letters within the same thread.  Therese can also split threads when this happens (Yeah sure, in her spare time, huh?  Poor Therese).  But if anyone notices that a thread gets too far off the subject matter, or gets too long and takes a different course of conversation, you can request that the thread be split. It would then be given a new title and be moved to a new thread of its own, and a link would be posted on the thread it was split from.  It works out really well.

Oh, and don't forget that you can start new threads in this suggestion forum, and title them with your idea for a new board, so you don't have to keep posting your suggestions under this thread.  That way they will be more organized, easier to find, and your suggestions will stand out more. 

[Geff]

Would a board for human food issues be appropriate? Don't know if you want to go there, but it's starting to look awfully familiar to what we've been dealing with.

[Therese]

Hi Geff,

It certainly is appropriate...what's going on in the pet food industry is so closely related to human food. I just added a new section.

[Geff]

Hi Therese - thanks! Hope it becomes popular 

[Therese]

HA! Sadly, it could!

[sylvia]

Maybe starting a board on pet vaccinations would be helpful and interesting. Research has changed so much on what vets should /should not be doing. I lost a dog to vaccinosis in 2000 and learned so much after that. Many vets ignore the new guidelines altogether. A cousin who is a vet says many vets consider the "annuals" their bread and butter. If anyone is interested I have lots of info and numerous sites with info from real experts/researchers not pet parents. Just a thought.