The Blue Ridge Kennel on the Wetumpka Alabama Chamber of Commerce page states (bold added): “Blue Ridge Kennels offers a range of feeding trials and research services for the pet food industry. We work closely with you to develop individual testing programs specific to your product. Our expert staff is dedicated to providing each of our pets with the highest quality of life.”
The FDA is the federal agency that regulates pet food, however the USDA is the federal agency that regulates pet food feeding testing facilities.
Blue Ridge Kennel’s feeding test facility received the “Decision and Consent Order” from the USDA saying Blue Ridge violated the Animal Welfare Act. some “Truth Discovered” quotes from the Consent Decision (all Findings of Fact agreed with by the kennel):
“Respondents failed to maintain medical records…”
“Respondents…failed to comply with the attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care regulations…”
“A redbone hound dog is very lean with prominent ribs, spine, and hip bones.…”
“Four dogs previously identified as experiencing weight loss were observed on inspection to be very thin with prominent ribs, spine, and hips..”
“Approximately four dogs were identified as having medical issues that were not detected by the facility prior to the inspection.”
“Respondents violated the Regulations by failing to make, preserve, and maintain accurate records…”
If this feeding trial kennel agrees that they failed to keep proper records, failed to properly care for the animals used in the feeding trials – has anyone asked their feeding test results? Have the pet foods been validated as complete and balanced by sick dogs or has testing resulted in feeding sick dogs?
It’s troubling, because the USDA doesn’t regulate pet food products – it’s not their jurisdiction to investigate whether the feeding tests done at this facility were conducted properly. And since the FDA does not regulate pet food feeding testing facilities, they do not have jurisdiction to investigate this facility. It’s a lose/lose situation for pet owners depending on the Complete and Balanced claims on pet food labels.
Unfortunately, pet owners are not told which feeding testing facility was used to prove a complete and balanced pet food claim. As with so many pet food concerns, we are left in the dark – not knowing important information about our pet’s food.
If your pet food label states something like: ‘Animal feeding tests using AAFCO methods confirm that [Product Name] provides complete and balanced nutrition’ – you can ask if the food at Blue Ridge Kennel has been tested for nutritional adequacy.
More information about this feeding test facility with disturbing photos and videos available HERE.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Buyer Beware of Author, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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