36 — North Shore News — A while back I wrote about the benefits of feeding a dog a natural raw diet. E mentioned that feeding a dog a raw diet is a commit- ment and should not be done half-heartedly. It should only be done after much self-edu- cating and research. Peop!: who have done their homework and made the commitment to feed their pets this way have noticed an increase in health and vitality as well as a decrease in aller- gies, eve/ear ailments and more. This increase in health is due to the unprocessed, high- quality nutrients in raw food that a dog is capable of absorbing and uutizing efftec- tively. Any bacteria that may be present in raw food is non- consequential once ingested, Sunday, October 29, 2000 canine connection because of the naturally high acid levels in a dog's stomach thar is being fed a raw die. It is also due to the fact that the food being used is of a human grade quality. No hoofs, chicken teet, or beaks allowed! High-grade meat is not cheap, and people who feed raw food have taken this into consideration because the long-term health benefits have outweighed the cost. They may have chosen to forego Campbell’s | Tomato Soup 12 x 284 mL. 3.99 SAVE at $500 Safeway Club Price 11.99 Safeway Club Price Bounty Paper i Towels - fi. f 15 Rolls, SAVE at least $6.00 15.99 Safeway Club Price | Rainbow Pack 12. x 591 mL... 9. 99 Sateway Club Price —PETS their usual grande latte a cou- ple times a week for the sake of their furry companion. But for some people this cost may be too great, and although their intention is to do what is best, they may choose to pur- chase poor-quality floor scrap- ings or meat from rendering plants, to save monev. Although this meat may be more cost effective, it may contain a bacterium, and who knows what else, that could be harmful to a dog. It may be especially harmful to a dog that has a compromised immune system or is new to a raw diet and does not vet have the natural levels of acidity in its stomach due to a previous kibble diet. That is why it is imperative that the meat or prepared raw food be purchased from a rep- utable source and is of a quali- ty that is fit for human con- on a raw fo sumption. There are many reputable businesses on the North Shore dedicated to the production of raw dicts for dogs and cats. In the Raw, located in North Vancouver (904-3647) carries a variety of raw food diets for both dogs and cats, all of which come from busi- nesses that use high quality meats and vegetables. Helen, the proprietor of The Healthy Hound in West Vancouver (925-3647) makes raw food in her store using meat from either non-medicat- ed or free-range animals. So does Fresh Start located in Port Moody (596-6103). All of these businesses give thorough information and endless amounts of advice on how to feed raw diets properly. They will also sell their meat and ‘vegetables separately and give tips on cost effectiveness Kellog ‘s s Brown or White ini Wheats $300 g Ox Com Pops 775 Foot Lops 928 9 Frosted Flakes 10209. Two Scoop Rass" Bran 1450 9. an 9.99 Safeway Club Price Safeway Pizza Packets 1.34 kg, Assorted varieties.” SAVE 2t least $2.50 6.99 Safeway Club Price ouny Detergent 77 Loads. SAVE at least $2.50 Nature Valley |@Tite Granola Bars AEK Variety Pack. 1080 9. we Safeway Club Price 19. Safeway Club Price Kellogg's Eggo Waffles Palmolive Dish Detergent Liquid. 1.25 Litre. SO 4 pet OWner can save some money while preparing, their own food. 3P Poultry-Plus, a butcher in North Vancouver (986- 5605) sells a selection of cuts of meat for dogs as well as a prepared natural-raw cat food. Gord, from Lynn Valley Meats (985-3813) is another butcher that produces pre-portioned, human grade meats for his canine customers. Unfortunately, there is a growing black eve in the raw pet food industry as individu- als jump on the raw food bandwagon willing to sell cheap meat to people wanting to save some money while they make a quick buck. Their justification is “It’s just a dog.” Ic is wise to avoid these cum- panies, as they don"t possess the knowledge necessary to produce a safe raw food diet. Anyone who is considering feeding their pet a natural raw dict should not think of it as an expense, they should think of it as an investment in his or her pet's health. — E-mail Joan Klucha at . Humans’ names: Suzanne . and Chris Teichreb. Pet's names: Tabby cats. ~~ River Debussy, 3, and Anna Bean, 3 months. Pets on the go: Anna: and River like to play outdoors.- Getting up to no good: Anna gets into the fireplace, and- tracks her ashy pawprints all "over the house! Don’t miss this year’s. oamee Family Services of the North Shore 15th Annual Winter Family Ball : More magic, More memories, : More meaning... than ever before Jesters ° Cocktails * Jugglers _ Children ¥ and Teen Entertainment All at the spectacular Westin Bayshore Resort. Sunday December 3, 2000 ° 5:00 pm. Call 988-5281 today to to reserve your spot