It's some weird synchronicity thing, I guess.
First, a new administration takes the reins of governance from one that oversaw the final stages of the dismantling of what little public health and consumer protection remained in this country.
Then another recall pulls both pet and human foods off the shelves -- the first recall of pet treats containing peanut butter suspected of being tainted with salmonella was announced last night.
All this during the very week the Pet Connection newspaper feature leads with a look at Marion Nestle's “Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine” (University of California Press, $19), her detailed account of the historic 2007 pet food recall and its implications for our entire food safety system.
We're scary good sometimes, aren't we?
The Pet Connection team realized early during the 2007 pet-food recall that the numbers of sick and dead pets were in the thousands and that the problem of tainted Chinese ingredients went far beyond pet-food safety. And in fact, the pet-food deaths were the first of many problems with Chinese products—toys, milk products, toothpaste and more.
Dr. Nestle was also among the first to see a large problem, and she turned her attention to the “canary in the coal mine” aspect of the pet-food industry. Her “Pet Food Politics,” written for an academic press, is a little dry at times, but the information and its implications are eye-opening. It’s a call to action that we can all hope the new Obama administration hears before there’s a repeat of the tragedy, perhaps next time with American children as the victims.
There's also a profile of Dr. Nestle and a link to the transcript of the interview I did with her late last year.
Want more? We also take a look at a few other great pet books from the previous year, including Dr. Irene Pepperberg's “Alex & Me” (Collins, $24) and “Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World” (Grand Central, $20) by Bret Witter and librarian Vicki Myron.
Many indoor cats can learn to enjoy an outdoor outing on leash. Choose a light leash and a harness designed for cats, not for dogs, since a cat will easily give a dog harness the slip.
Walking a cat isn’t about heading out as with a dog, but rather consists of encouraging your pet to explore, with you following. Treats and praise can make a kitty more tolerant of the restrictions of harness and leash.
All this and more, in our Pet Connection newspaper feature, which you can read right here.
You can also see it exactly the way we send it to our client newspapers here. (PDF)
(Top image: Dr. Marion Nestle, photo taken by Pet Connection Director of Photography Morgan Ong. And then ... Gina's Clara, taken by Gina.)
Cutie pie Clara--she looks very healthy.
Posted by: Colorado Transplant | 20 January 2009 at 07:00 PM
I want to thank you for the heads up on the Pet Food Politics book. I'm involved in the industry, with a focus on raw and grain free locally made food... and I had tracked the recall details like a bloodhound - or so I thought.
Dr. Nestle has done an absolutely incredible job. The book is eye opening to say the least, and I am literally on the edge of my seat waiting for her next release (note to Dr. Nestle's editor -- come ON already!!).
Also one quick note regarding Alex & Me - I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down and read it in one afternoon. As a parrot owner and rescuer, I was ecstatic to finally hear the human side of Alex that we all knew was there all along.
Posted by: Kim | 20 January 2009 at 07:00 PM
One of the best presents I received over the holidays was Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life written by Dr. Nancy Kay - www.speakingforspot.com.
With finances tight in the current economy it has lots of tips to help us make the most of pet care dollars. It is an amazing book and one I know I'll be referring to regularly.
Posted by: Holly | 22 January 2009 at 07:00 PM
Dr. Kay's book got a good review in our syndicated pet-care feature.
:)
Posted by: Gina Spadafori | 22 January 2009 at 07:00 PM