Contaminated dog food: It's happening again

In case you haven't heard, the mystery deaths of hundreds of pet dogs have been attributed to Jerky Treats made in China. The treats are distributed under a number of different brand names, so the safest course of action would be to avoid all store-bought brands -- unless you can be completely certain that you are buying a product made from 100% domestic ingredients.

Of course, even before the "Chinese problem" became apparent, pet food was a scandal. See here and here.

I suggest giving your dog home-made treats. Here are some recipes. Also see here. Making meals for your hound is neither expensive nor difficult -- just scout out a cheap source of animal protein (hamburger, poultry, even jack mackerel), then toss the meat into a pot with some rice (or oatmeal), water and maybe some frozen veggies. Experience will quickly teach you the right proportions. In all likelihood, you'll save money.

Let me once again thank this blog's readers for helping my Bella during her recent health scare. Sometimes I wish she were young again -- as she closes in on fourteen, she doesn't chase birds and squirrels they way she used to. But she still sleeps on my hand every night.