More FYI.

Regards,
Susan

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:06 PM


Dear Waggin Tails Customers
Two Days ago, we reported a voluntary recall from Natural Balance of their
Venison dry dog and cat food. Yesterday, they expanded the recall to dry
and canned venison products for dogs and cats, as well as their venison
treats for dogs. Although the recall is limited to these products only, we
have decided to suspend sales of all Natural Balance products. Below,
please find the Natural Balance Press release, a current list of foods we
are carrying, as well as an article from USA today, which we found very
helpful in identifying the facts around this most recent recall.
What is safe to feed?
After reviewing all information around both the Menu Foods recall, as well
as this weeks Natural Balance recall, we are left to try and answer the
question of "What IS safe to feed our pets?" This is not an easy thing to
answer with complete certainty. Our opinion of this situation is that the
pet food industry has been without scrutiny far too long. As these events
continue to unfold, we do believe that the manufacturers with a total
commitment to quality and safety will come out on top. Those whose
commitment is less than that, will not. We go back to what we said in our
first email, which is that this is a result of economy minded manufacturers
sourcing economy ingredients. We have been forced to make a lot of
decisions around what products we feel comfortable carrying and which we do
not. Again, not easy, but based on information to date, we feel confident
in our next steps. At this point, here is our position on what we refuse to
sell.
We will not sell foods using any ingredients from outside the US, with the
exception of meat from New Zealand. Nothing in any of the recalls has been
related to meat source, so we feel confident in this part of our decision.
We will not sell foods made outside the US
We will not sell foods made at Menu Foods
We will not sell foods made by a company that will not disclose this
information.
We will not sell foods with any ingredients known to be suspect.
We feel that this is the appropriate next step to take with all our pet's
health and safety in mind. It will most likely not be the last step we
take. Based on this decision, we have provided a list of foods that we are
currently carrying below. We do invite any specific questions and ask for
your patience in response. The level of communication is at a volume that
is far beyond our current capabilities. We will continue to update you with
any new information about the recall or regarding decisions we make about
the products we carry.Sincerely, John GigliottiPresident and
FounderWaggintails.com



Current List of Food Products Sold At Waggin Tails
Abady-All products
Artemis-All products
Avo Derm-All products, except Avo Select Cuts feline formulas
Back to Basics-All products
Blue Buffalo-All products
Bravo-All products
ByNature Organics dry and canned only-not pouches
California Natural-Dry products only
Canidae-All products
Canine caviar-All products
Chicken Soup-All products
Dr. Harveys-All products
Eagle-Dry products only
Evo-Dry products only
Felidae-All products
Fromm-Dry Food Only
Honest Kitchen-All Products
Innova-Dry products only
Merrick-All Products
Nature's Variety-Dry products only
Newman's Own Organics-Dry products only Pinnacle-Dry products
only
Premium Edge-All products
Red Barn-All products
Sojourner Farms-All products
Solid Gold-All products
Steve's Real Food-All products
Tripett-All products
Timberwolf Organics-All products
Wellness-Dry products only
Wysong-dry products with the exception of some cans not made at Menu Foods



Information from USA Today
USA Today reports about the new recall, and that the source was again from
China, imported by San Francisco-based Wilbur-Ellis.

The industrial chemical melamine has been found in more pet food, and
suspicion is falling on a second pet-food ingredient imported from China as
the source of the contamination.

Natural Balance Pet Foods said Tuesday it found melamine in samples of some
of its food, which led to a recall. The company suspects melamine was in a
rice protein concentrate used as an ingredient, said President Joey Herrick
in an interview...

The rice protein concentrate was imported from China by San Francisco-based
Wilbur-Ellis. Herrick says the concentrate, which is being tested, is
suspected to have melamine, as it was the only new ingredient. Recalled
Natural Balance products include Venison and Brown Rice canned and dry dog
foods, dog treats and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.

Wilbur-Ellis CEO John Thacher said his company sold the concentrate to five
pet-food makers, but that most of it went to two firms. One of the primary
companies was Diamond Pet Foods, which packs some of the Natural Balance
product but doesn't use the concentrate in any Diamond-made foods, says
Diamond spokesman Jim Fallon. The other major customer, which Thacher would
not name, tested the rice protein and found no melamine, Thacher says.
Natural Balance's rice protein concentrate is mixed with venison meal,
Thacher says.



Natural Balance Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Pacoima, CA -- April 17, 2007-- Natural Balance,
Pacoima, CA, is issuing a voluntary nationwide recall for all of its Venison
dog products and the dry Venison cat food only, regardless of date codes.
The recalled products include Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog
foods, Venison and Brown Rice dog treats, and Venison and Green Pea dry cat
food. Recent laboratory results show that the products contain melamine. We
believe the source of the melamine is a rice protein concentrate. Natural
Balance has confirmed this morning that some production batches of these
products may contain melamine.

The recall was prompted by consumer complaints received by Natural Balance
involving a small number of cats and dogs that developed kidney failure
after eating the affected product.
Dogs or cats who have consumed the suspect food and show signs of kidney
failure (such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting) should be seen by
a veterinarian. We recommend our customers immediately stop feeding our
recalled venison products regardless of date code and return unused product
to their retailer for a full refund.The products are packaged in bags, cans
and zip lock treat bags and sold in pet specialty stores and PetCo
nationally.
No other Natural Balance products are involved in this voluntary recall as
none of our other formulas include the rice protein concentrate.

Although the problems seem to be focused on a particular production period
of the venison products, over the last four days we have notified our
distributors and retailers by phone and e-mail to immediately stop selling
and return all recalled Venison dog foods and treats and the Venison dry cat
food. Venison canned cat food is not involved.The source of the melamine
appears to be a rice protein concentrate, which was recently added to the
dry venison formulas. Natural Balance does not use wheat gluten, which was
associated with the previous melamine contamination.

None of Natural Balance's other dry formulas, none of our other canned or
roll products and none of our other treats are involved with this voluntary
recall. We continue to work closely with the FDA in their ongoing
investigation.
Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-829-4493 or email
info@....