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Intro

 

Have you ever stopped to think how many DOMESTICATED living things EXIST because of us? And that they need to eat at least twice a day, EVERY DAY, around the world, besides us?

Here you have a sobering report that, of course, can only reflect the “official” side of the story. For you to form an idea, I invite you to read:

 

Facts and Figures

 

Cats, dogs, small fluffy mammals, ornamental birds or aquaria: the figures are a striking proof of the importance Europeans attach to their companion animals.

Please click here for the FEDIAF Facts & Figures 2014.

Pet animals contribute to the economy and society as shown by statistics from FEDIAF. YES !!
But this combined annual turnover of over €30 billion, “NEEDS to be as responsable and respectful of the environment as we possible can SINCE we all depend on it”.

Hey, aren’t we forgetting animal shelters ??? YES we are!

And last, but definitely not least (because they also eat), the saddest of all, which we never take into account: The animals for testing. Animal Testing Statistics.

 

These are known figures !! but hey! Those not appearing in this charts, also eat!!!

Number of households that own a pet

Households

Dog

46.300.000

Cat

38.900.000

Freshwater Fish

11.900.000

Bird

5.700.000

Percentage of households that own a pet

62%

Total U.S. pet industry expenditures

Billions

2016

$62.75

2015

$60.28

2014

$58.04

2013

$52.87

2012

$52.87

2011

$50.96

2001

$28,50

1994

$17.00

And what about those who became the unfortunate pets of science ?? (they eat sometimes…)

Animal Testing Statistics

Data

Total number of cats in the U.S.

76,430,000

Total number of dogs in the U.S.

54,000,000

Total amount of dogs and cats put to death each year

13,400,000

Total amount of animals killed each year in research

19,500,000

Total percent of all testing done on rodents (rats or mice)

87.5%>

Total percent of testing done on non-human primates

0,5%

Total percent of animals tested that experienced pain

6%

Total percent of animals that experienced no pain

61%

Total percent of animals euthanized to avoid pain

31%

Tota percent of Adults that say they're against animal testing

43%

Total amount of animals in the U.S. used for testing on agricultural experiments (not including mice and rats)

1.13 million

Total number of Animals in research annually

SpeciesTotal Number
Dogs

66,610

Primates

57,531

Pigs

58,598

Rabbits

245,786

Cats

22,921

Hamsters

176,988

Sheep

32,260

 


 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • Q.- What is the difference between Pet-food and Animal feed?
    A.- Of greatest importance is the fact that, unlike livestock feed, pet food is brought into our homes and often handled by the owners or care givers, potentially exposing an entire family to the risks of feed ingredients, some of which I have mentioned in a blogpost I wrote some time ago … Pet Food Challenges – And Why We Need to Change.”Examples of the differences between feed and food…FDA’s Compliance Policy “CPG Sec. 675.100 Diversion of Contaminated Food for Animal Use” states “FDA does not object to the diversion to animal feed of human food adulterated with rodent, roach, or bird excreta.”Compliance Policy “CPG Sec. 675.200 Diversion of Adulterated Food to Acceptable Animal Feed Use”states “The *Center* will consider the requests for diversion of food considered adulterated for human use in all situations where the diverted food will be acceptable for its intended animal food use.” Read more about it from Susan Thixton via Truth about Pet FoodVery Different: US Pet Food and EU Pet Food by Susan ThixtonFor further information regarding animal feed regulations, you may contact the: Division of Animal Feeds, (HFV-220) Animal Food & Feeds.Animal feed legislation and guidance – Legislation on animal feed is harmonised at European Union (EU) level.  (It applies principally to feed for farmed livestock, but also covers feed for horses, pets, farmed fish, zoo and circus animals, and creatures living freely in the wild.)

 

  • Q.- Can I export petfood from the US to the EU ?
    A.-
    All exports of U.S. pet food to the European Union must comply with EU requirements which include rules on labeling, hygiene, animal health, certification and the use of additives. Click here for the complete list of requirements.

    • “Exporting Pet Food to the EU” (FAS GAIN Report)
    • “EU-27 Feed and Pet Food Labeling Requirements” (FAS GAIN Report)
    • “EU-27 FAIRS Export Certificate Report” (FAS GAIN Report)
    • European Commission – Health & Consumers DG – Animal Nutrition
    • Catalog of Feed Materials (Commission Regulation 68/2013 of Jan. 16, 2013)

 


Good reads :

 

 

 

 

We need to talk about the environmental impact of the…

 

 

 

  • For all things petfood you can follow Debbie Phillips-Donaldson is editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry.