Barking Baby's Bathhouse

Owner Crusades for Healthy Dog Food

by Karen Fetter

A crusade lead by Kathy Hallstrom, owner of Barking Baby's Bathhouse in Delmont, is starting to change what pet owners feed their animals.

Kathy's constant research into the pet food market has opened her eyes to the ingredients or lack thereof in dog food. Now, she not only sells quality dog food at her business, Barking Baby's Bathhouse, but she will educate anyone who wants to learn about the dangers of commercial dog food.

"Recently I began to learn what we are actually feeding our pets, and for which they are suffering. I have gone from being shocked to being appalled, to being angry at the pet food industry. It has become a passion to inform my customers with this information," said Kathy.

The first step in learning how the dog food industry is harming pets is to look at the ingredients.

What you should NOT see is corn, wheat, soy, brewers rice, gluten, beet pulp, and meat by-products. Meat by-products are actually ground and cleaned slaughtered meat carcass parts such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, bones, heads, and intestines, and small amounts of feathers from chickens. It can also include road kill and cancerous cows that have been euthanized with sodium pentobarbital. 

Chemicals like sodium pentobarbital does not get cooked out in the process of making dog food, and it can then slowly poison our dogs as they consume it. The term meat by-products is often referenced in commercial pet food ingredients. In many cases, meat by-products are derived from the 4-D meat sources. 4-D means food that was dead, dying, diseased, or disabled. Furthermore, the words "rendered meat" on labels can refer to any rendered mammal meat including dogs and cats. 

Also on the labels pet owners may see "unnamed fat sources." This may be anything including rancid restaurant grease that was thrown out. It needs to be identified as chicken fat or vegetable fat. And lastly, notice how fish is listed. Unless it is stated that fish has been U.S. inspected or certified, the fish used has been preserved with ethoxyquin, a known carcinogen. Ethoxyquin has been banned by other countries, but  has not yet been banned by the United States.

It is just another way that dogs are slowly being poisoned, according to Kathy.

�Most people are appalled when they find these facts out. I know I was. That is why I want to make everyone who is a pet owner know about this!� said Kathy. You can learn more about how to research your dog food brand and assure your pet is eating safe, high quality food when you read the rest of this article online.

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Furthermore, Kathy suggests reading the book, "Food Pets Die For," by Ann. N. Martin. This book reveals in great detail the shocking facts about the ingredients present in commercial dog food.

According to research Kathy has done, commercial pet food companies take these meat by-products along with corn, grains, and sugar to form a gray slurry. This slurry is put through an extruder to form it into desired dog food shapes. Dyes are used so it looks appealing to the owner. 

Then they spray their products with bacon grease, salt, and sugar to make it palatable and addictive to your dog. Meanwhile, dogs cannot digest corn and the grains can cause ear infections and allergies. Dogs are carnivores and are meant to eat meat protein, not vegetables and grains. But the packaging, advertisements, and reputation keep people buying the same brands of dog food. Pets suffer and owners just end up spending money on medications and special shampoos. 

"The pet industry spends millions on advertisements and may only spend 12 cents a pound on dog food. They are also deceptive when creating the ingredient labels. When packaging says 80% chicken, it is describing it in the powdered dehydrated state. In that state there is very little protein," said Kathy.

In addition to spreading the word about dog food ingredients to the public, Kathy and her husband Bob are doing their part by selling high quality dog food at their shop, Barking Baby's Bathhouse, located in Delmont. 

The shop is a self-serve dog wash that supplies everything you need to clean your pet including special tubs, ramps, hydro surge bathing system, high velocity dryers, towels, aprons, combs, shampoos, and conditioners. And each tub is cleaned and disinfected after each use. Barking Baby's Bathhouse also offers expert grooming services and can pamper your cats as well. Barking Baby's Bathhouse has been in business for three years and in that time Kathy has learned even more about dogs and how to care for them.

"We became interested and aware of the dog food epidemic because of the stated conditions and problems of dogs coming in for baths. Many times we are told that a dog's coat is dry, the skin is itchy, the ears are infected, the paws are chewed, or that the animal has hot spots. Clients ask us how to alleviate these conditions. However, what the dog is being fed is seldom a first concern or suspected as the cause," said Kathy.

"Good food will keep your dog living longer and healthier. Good food will alleviate the suffering of itching and scratching and will keep bones and joints from pain. And in the end, good food will save in costly vet bills and medications," said Kathy.

The best way for pet owners to research their pet food is to visit www.dogfoodanalysis.com where there is an analysis of most dog foods.

Stop in to Barking Baby's Bathhouse in the Salem 22 Plaza in Delmont to receive high quality dog care, supplies, and dog food. Hours are Tuesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

You can contact Barking Baby's Bathhouse
at 724-468-3437 or
visit www.barkingbabysbathhouse.com.