Carrots, Not Kibble!

Lucky dogs and cats? I prefer deserving.
For a few years now I have been trying to figure out what is the best food to feed my furry companions. I have heard all sorts of horror stories about kibble and the pet food industry. We currently feed our dogs a holistic kibble, which has been wonderful for our dogs, including our epileptic, highly-allergic Sherman. That all being said, I have always been uncomfortable with the idea of feeding my best friends pressed, manufactured, highly preserved dried food- the same food- every day. Who is to say that the little brown nuggets, served with a dash of warm water, provide the nourishment and nutrients these beautiful creatures need? Ah, the billion-dollar pet food industry, that's who.

These thriving companies have not always been around. Prior to this booming industry, what did people feed their pets? Table scraps. Whatever the family was eating. Not "food" that has been processed and processed and processed in a factory somewhere, with ingredients from as far reaching as China. My disgust and shock with the pet food industry has grown with successive minute of research I do. Oh, the "ingredients" we have unwittingly fed our pets!

I feel it is time for a change. For me and my furry companions. Luke and I have been long talking about decreasing our carbon footprint, and supporting local, organic farms. This summer we started by buying a farm share with a local organic farm a mere ten minutes from our home. It was an incredible experience that we plan on continuing. We have also been trying, whenever possible, to buy our meat from a local, free-range farm. So why not the same for the four-legged members of the family? Indeed! I pulled out my doggie cookbooks. As I have amassed a bit of a collection, there was quite a selection. I decided to start with a chicken stew recipe sent to me by a friend.
I found the process of cooking for my dogs both gratifying and easy. After chopping and prepping, I put all of the ingredients into a stock pot. I walked away, leaving it to simmer for two hours. When all was said and done, I had a pot full of healthy, balanced, homemade stew for my dogs. A small portion went into the refrigerator for the following day- the rest into the freezer. Then I made a beef based meal, and did the same with that. Some in the fridge, the rest in the freezer. Over the past few days, I have been adding more stew to the dog's meals, and easing up on the kibble. Eventually I hope to wean them off of the kibble all together. I am being careful to be sure that every meal is balanced- protein, carbohydrates(usually some type of grain, such as brown rice), and veggies and fruits.
So far so good. And now, along with all of the homemade doggie treats I make, I am now making savory REAL meals for my pets.

Oh! I forgot to mention that I began cooking for my cats also. They are currently enjoying a pureed chicken, brown rice and carrot meal. They too, are being weaned off of their kit-cat kibble. Hooray for healthy friends!

I am currently reading FOOD PETS DIE FOR: Shocking Facts About Pet Food by Ann N. Martin. You care about your pets. Pick it up. You'll want to know what Ann knows...perhaps you too will begin cooking for your fuzzy friends.