Shelters feeding animals.. animals?

Okay so I was talking to my friend and she was telling me about this pound that euthanizes dogs and cats, turns them into kibble, and then feeds them to the shelter dogs and cats. This then builds the immunity to the dogs and cats so they have to have more of the shot to put that animal to sleep. She says this is possible because they have a ton of government funding and backing up to do it. To me this sounds ridiculous but at the same time bothers me. I sort of have an idea the exact location she is talking about too because apparently her friend works there and sees this first hands and is constantly complaining about it. I really don't know what to do about this and if this is even true. Is there people you can contact about something like that? Do you guys think this is even possible?

Sounds like a complete lie, one of those urban legend things.

That's what I was thinking. Especially when she gave me the name of the place and when I looked it up online, it said it was a Humane Society. I told her that's definitely not true for a Humane Society because 1. They couldn't afford it since they do not get government funding and 2. They probably get enough donations to suffice.

I was trying really hard to explain to her the difference between a HS and a pound.

When I worked at our HS, we got a ton of donations but we actually fed our dogs and cats something along the lines of Burns Hollistic(I believe it was called, really healthy stuff) and usually gave the donated food to people who couldn't afford pet food or to the wildlife sanctuary.

That, to me, sounds both illegal and scientifically impossible (the immunity part).

That does NOT sound normal... it sounds more, unethical? Like Alyssa, I do not believe that animals eating animals strengthens their immunity.

I was talking to a chick that runs a lab rescue in Illinois and she sent me this link. This might have been what my friend was talking about but I'm not sure, she didn't describe it this way.

http://www.dogs-4life.com/does-your-...ized-dog-.html

ETA: Another link
http://www.examiner.com/x-31917-Anah...-make-pet-food

WOW! :eek: (I have to process this information)

I still think it is suspect. Remember, just because it is on the Internet somewhere, doesn't mean it's true. I've seen the "Los Angeles shelter" sentence and numbers many places with no attribution or follow-up.

And yes, rendering plants do exist. They perform a valuable service in our meat-eating society, so that the "leftover" parts of butchered animals do not go to waste or take up room in landfills. It's not a pretty part of life, but without it, life would be much worse. Much like sewage treatment plants - much better than polluting every river and stream with human waste, and killing off wildlife, never mind the cost in terms of disease and air quality for the humans.

Knowing what the regs for rendering plants were when Dad was working for them in the '60s, I find it incredibly hard to believe that link is even remotely close to the truth.

From the website in question:

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The author of this website is neither a legal counselor nor a health practitioner, nor a veterinarian and makes no claims in this regard. You are welcome to read the information on this nsite for entertainment and as the opinion of the lay author. You should follow the links and visit the various websites and determine for yourself if the products are for you.

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In other words, it's all fiction. To put that disclaimer in there I'm willing to bet someone had some legal issues with some of the lies......

I know I may sound demented to you guys, but why would they waste the time and nutrients kibbling the deceased animals? Feeding them raw muscle meats, meaty bones as well as organ meats is suuuper nutritious, and the food goes alot further... IMO if they are doing this, they are wasting your tax dollars. If they were feeding it raw, then I think this would be a great way to save money.

But what about the Phenobarbital in their system? If you fed the dead animals raw to live animals wouldn't it just poison them and make them really sick if not kill them?

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Originally Posted by animal_rescue

But what about the Phenobarbital in their system? If you fed the dead animals raw to live animals wouldn't it just poison them and make them really sick if not kill them?

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Jeez louise... I thought everything out except for that lmfao. You're right!

Why even continue discussing something that's complete and total fiction?

I find this hard to believe. I seriously doubt that the FDA would allow diseased animals, or those with various drugs in their system, do be processed for consumption. Processed and used as fertilizer has long been an acceptable practice, but as food???? Nah - very doubtful IMO.

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Originally Posted by Lady's Human

Why even continue discussing something that's complete and total fiction?

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Sorry to step on any toes... I just read the OPs post.

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Originally Posted by Lady's Human

Why even continue discussing something that's complete and total fiction?

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Just because I answered her doesn't mean I believe it, the sole reason I made this post was so people would tell me it wasn't true. I'm sorry if I've made you upset by answering her somehow.

Don't worry you have every right to discuss something here that you consider interesting,whether it be fact or fiction.:)

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Originally Posted by animal_rescue

Just because I answered her doesn't mean I believe it, the sole reason I made this post was so people would tell me it wasn't true. I'm sorry if I've made you upset by answering her somehow.

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That wasn't directed at you, don't worry about it.

That was pretty rude, IMO

EDIT: At least it came across that way.

When I did online research of dog foods, it was pretty clear that the cheaper, low cost, foods often do include pet renderings. "animal by-product meal" was one of the "euphemisms" which appears on the label. I don't think those end up in the human food chain.

And I never heard of it helping with immunity.

No way a shelter could possibly "do" the processing. Cynic that I am, I suppose it may be a way for some shelters could make money. I mean, when I have my pet euthanized at the vet, it costs a bit even for the anonymous group burial. A high kill shelter is not getting paid for the burials, and is almost alwyas struggling for funds.

Ick, what a topic! But it is somethin we on PT think about it.

I don't believe it at all. It's a scare tactic in poor taste.:mad:

Sounds like a crock of bullcrap to me. I have never even heard of that so I *highly* doubt it's true. I work at an animal shelter and that does not happen even in high kill shelters..

I find this just plain GROSS!!!

Doesn't anybody remember how Nutro used to test positive for phenobarbitol in like the 90's?

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Originally Posted by pomtzu

I find this hard to believe. I seriously doubt that the FDA would allow diseased animals, or those with various drugs in their system, do be processed for consumption. Processed and used as fertilizer has long been an acceptable practice, but as food???? Nah - very doubtful IMO.

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Ellie, the DA does not regulate pet foods. No one does; it is a self regulated industry. And yes, diseased, roadkill, euthanized animals can find their way into processed kibble.

Click on this link:
http://www.acreaturecomfort.com/ratingpetfood.htm

Scroll down to the GLOSSARY, and read MEAT BY PRODUCTS. You do NOT want a food that lists this on the label.

This is also discussed in The Whole Pet Diet, by Andi Brown. Check it out at your library, she also makes it clear that many of the dog kibbles include stuff you wouldn't believe make it into your pet's food. This is why we need to read labels for our pets, just as we have had to learn to do this for ourselves. We need to stick to high quality foods, and know what is in them.

The FDA doesn't regulate pet foods, however, rendering plants are highly regulated entities, and have been for decades.

The plant Pa worked at mainly produced fertilizer,meat scrap, and tallow, and had to turn away animals many times because they couldn't source the animals or tell the plant how the animals had died, and that was in the early 1960s.

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Originally Posted by IRescue452

Doesn't anybody remember how Nutro used to test positive for phenobarbitol in like the 90's?

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This is why I read the whole post before posting what you posted. I was wondering if anyone else remembered that.

You guys need to watch Dirty Jobs the TV show.. there is one about rendering farm animals & what its used for & which animals get rendered... Gross yes, but its a VERY good watch & very educational.