Major University Partners With Independent Dog Food Company To Develop Humane Feeding Trials In Response To Controversial Industry Methods

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Nov 13, 2012, 05:00 ET

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard testing of commercial dog food is conducted on a colony of canines bred specifically for the purpose of feeding trials. In many cases, these dogs live their entire lives in a facility. Not only is this inhumane, but testing is carried out in an environment radically different than the ultimate end consumer of the products - dogs living in family homes.

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Unwilling to perpetuate a feeding trial that goes against everything they stand for but still wanting to submit their product to testing under the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which sets the quality and safety of animal feed and pet food in the United States, JustFoodForDogs challenged Cal Poly Pomona to create a feeding trial that prioritized the quality of life of the trial dogs while also providing real-world data from the volunteer pets and pet parents.

The company turned to Cal Poly Pomona's Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department to help design an improved method to satisfy AAFCO requirements. The Animal Health Science program is the only American Veterinary Medical Association accredited program for veterinary technology on the West Coast, and one of only 23 nationally. According to Dr. Broc Sandelin, PhD, Chair of the Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, "The field method we developed takes significantly more effort than the standard industry approach, but to JustFoodForDogs it was absolutely worth it. The dogs are happy and the data is scientifically valid."

The study conducted by Cal Poly Pomona utilized volunteer dogs living normal canine lives in their own homes throughout the testing. Twenty seven participants of various sizes and breeds between the ages of one and five were studied throughout the 182 day feeding trial, which tested three of the company's whole food recipes. AAFCO requires testing of four blood parameters. This trial took it a step further and tested a complete blood cell count and comprehensive chemistry panel looking at over 25 blood parameters. All dogs that completed the trial passed with flying colors and were found to be happy and healthy.

JustFoodForDogs regularly challenges the current standard of the commercial dog food industry in the areas of product manufacturing, testing and more as they raise awareness on canine nutrition and strive to increase the quality and length of life for as many dogs as possible through a balanced, whole food diet. They created the world's first commercial, human-grade kitchen for dogs based in Southern California to provide daily food for healthy dogs, and custom formulations for canines with special dietary needs.

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Contact:
Maggie Feldman Rubenstein
Magnetic Public Relations
+1-702-553-5832
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SOURCE JustFoodForDogs