By Chad Light
Photos by Kate Gardiner
Organic…all natural…pesticidefree… antibioticfree… no artificial flavor, color, or additives…
You see these words everywhere today. It seems like everyone is going out of their way to make sure that the food they eat, the products they use to clean their homes, the things they put on their skin and hair, anything that comes in contact with us at all, is free of additives and chemicals, has undergone minimal-to-no processing and is friendly to the environment.
They carefully scan the aisles of grocery stores looking for “allnatural” and “organic” products, but when they get to the pet products section, they reach for the first thing their hand lands on, or whatever might be cheapest, with little thought as to what’s in there. But pets are living beings too, and although they are treated like family by most people, they have no say as to what they eat or what they’re bathed in or groomed with.
If they’re as important as the rest of the members of your household, then why not treat them that way? Why not go out of the way to give them the same safe, healthy, high-quality products that a human family would use?
Jennifer Stevenson of Diane’s Natural Foods says that she’s definitely seen a shift in the way people think about what they buy for their pets. “Pets are an important part of our customer’s lives and as many of our customers have become educated on the importance of sustainability, organic, non-GMO, and natural items, this naturally carries over into the care of their pets. Research shows that using natural products for your furry family member can help them live a healthier life, with less allergies and allergic reactions, fewer digestive disorders, faster healing in times of illness and most importantly, help prevent dangerous toxins and ingredients from being brought into the home and potentially harming the human members of the family.”
Debbie Kleckner, owner of Paradise Poochie says, “If you want to keep your pet living with you longer, and have a healthy life while living it, you need to pay attention to what you’re buying for them.”
Pawesmetrics, a pet-grooming product company based in Ponte Vedra, has the same philosophy. “Dogs are members of our families and deserve to be treated with the same love, care, and respect that we treat anyone else.” A company “with a conscience and driven by compassion,” they manufacture human-grade, salonquality shampoos and grooming essentials from natural ingredients which are effective yet gentle, because what their skin comes in contact with is as important as what they’re eating.
According to Kleckner, the big pet companies don’t have your pet’s best interest at heart. Past reports of thousands of dogs dying due to Purina’s use of propylene glycol — a component of auto antifreeze, which Purina defended by saying that it was an FDA-approved additive which was also used in people food — and China’s ongoing use of formaldehyde in pet food prove that, as Kleckner puts it “Big dog food companies don’t care. The people at the head of those corporations are all bean counters who source from the least expensive and most convenient suppliers.”
Mass producers use euthanized animal parts in what she calls “low grade food” and the so-called “natural” market has very little regulation. In fact, for some makers who use the word, “natural” really means nothing; it’s merely a word they put on packaging in order to appeal to people who are trying to make better choices for the four-legged members of their families.
Here in St. Augustine, a community which is certainly more eco-conscious than most, there is even more of a concerted effort by consumers to search out options which are truly natural, organic, and environmentally friendly. With no regulation, and companies plastering the “natural” label on anything, how can consumers be sure that what they’re buying is what they think it is?
Answer: Go ask the experts.
Specialty pet product stores are a great resource. Places like Paradise Poochie, next to Hobby Lobby on State Road 312, fully research their suppliers so that their customers don’t have to. Kleckner asserts, “We always try to find family run companies or small corporations who we know use the best ingredients available and we pay close attention to what’s on the labels.”
If there isn’t a specialty pet store nearby, your local health food store is another option you can trust for all natural quality products. Jan Stevenson of Diane’s Natural Market asserts that the health food store is proud to offer their customers a number of alternatives to conventional pet products found at the big box stores or grocery chains. “We carry a variety of natural, organic and homeopathic products for pets: dog and cat food; flea and tick remedies; natural shampoos; preventative care for ailments such as arthritis and anxiety. The natural pet market continues to grow and we continue to grow with it.”
However you go about finding pet supplies which you can trust are genuinely pure and natural, your pet deserves the best you can provide. It might take a little more effort, but in the end, your faithful companion will lead a happier and healthier life…and for all the joy that they bring to our lives, aren’t they worth it?