Fw: A message from The Iams Company

[Guest guest]

Hi all;

 

This is the reply I received from Iams about the Iditarod. I

noticed they talked about working with " selected mushers " . My

question now is, and I am sending them an email asking this, how

do they select mushers, and what about the way they treat their

dogs?

 

 

>Deborah Pageau

>Gibsons, BC Canada

>

>Dear Deborah:

>

>Thank you for sharing your concerns. We no longer give

corporate support to the

>Iditarod. Since the mid-1990s, our energies have been focused

on the

>nutritional research we conduct with selected mushers. We have

received letters

>both in support of, and protest against, the Iditarod. While we

listen very

>carefully to our customers and concerned dog lovers, we must

make our decisions

>based on our mission to enhance the well-being of all dogs.

>

>For more than ten years we have worked with these mushers to

advance our

>understanding of the nutritional needs of dogs. Our feeding

trials with their

>dogs have resulted in breakthrough research in clinical diets

that help

>veterinarians worldwide treat dogs recovering from surgery and

cancer

>therapy-one of those formulas is Eukanuba Veterinary Diet

Maximum Calorie.

>

>Maximum Calorie is a diet designed to address animals

nutritional needs during

>stress, such as illness, surgery, and cancer. It has been

particularly useful

>in managing the nutritional needs of rescued Greyhounds. These

dogs do not

>metabolize fat the way other dogs do. When they come away from

the abuse of the

>track they are emaciated, worn down, and debilitated. Maximum

Calorie has been

>instrumental in helping these athletes rebuild muscle mass and

rejuvenate to the

>dog they were before the abuse started.

>

>Our work with these selected mushers has also given us a better

understanding of

>how to keep dogs properly hydrated, and how to use antioxidants

to prevent

>muscle stiffness in exercising dogs.

>

>The mushers that we work with take incredibly good care of their

dog teams.

>They know the capabilities of each of dog and would not think of

pushing them

>into dangerous activity just to win a race. They take their

responsibility for

>the well-being of their dogs very seriously.

>

>You have expressed an interest in sled dogs--have you heard

about the sled dog

>crisis that has been happening in Alaska over the past few

months?

>

>Many communities along the Yukon River depend on sled dogs for

transportation in

>the winter. Traditionally, these dogs were fed salmon caught in

the Yukon

>River. Because the salmon population has recently been

decimated the owners of

>these dogs were faced with the choice of euthanizing their dogs

or watching them

>starve to death. This situation was being faced in around 30 to

40 communities.

>

>

>The Iams Company has donated over 43 tons of dog food to help

get these dogs

>through the winter. We are not the only ones to contribute,

several of our

>competitors, Pets.com, and concerned dog-lovers have also come

through with

>donations.

>

>I hope I have reassured you in our commitment to our four-legged

buddies. Our

>Mission Statement is to enhance the well being of dogs and cats

by providing

>world class quality foods. That is what drives our company and

what we base our

>decisions on. Our goal of optimum nutrition for dogs and cats is

not restricted

>to the house pet but for all dogs and cats.

>

>Please don't hesitate to contact us again-by phone or e-mail--if

we can be of

>further service. Our Customer Service Center is open 8:00 AM to

8:00 PM ET,

>Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET on Saturday.

Phone toll-free

>1-800-525-4267.

>

>Sincerely,

>Iams Customer Service

>

>The Iams Company is proud of having over 50 years of nutritional

excellence,

>dedicated to enhancing the well-being of dogs and cats by

providing world-class

>quality foods.

>