Beth Hubbs:

When I tell people that I cook food for my pets, they are always inquisitive and want to know why, and what I put in the food.

WHY human-grade pet food for my dog and cat?

1... Health Benefits To My Pets.

Eating a high protein diet with adequate fiber is important to pets. Fiber can come from various sources. I know dogs and cats 'in the wild' (ha!) would not be eating carrots and broccoli. But high quality vegetables are a good source of fiber and they have many vitamins and minerals that give humans and animals protection from heart disease, cancers and a host of other illnesses.

In addition to what my pets get from the human-grade food I cook for them in my own kitchen, they benefit from what they don't get from many traditional pet foods on the market including dyes, corn, soy, wheat, animal by-products, preservatives, etc. See #2.

2... My Peace of Mind.

I know exactly what my animals are eating. No mysterious ingredients, fillers, by-products or preservatives. No grains, dyes or other unnecessary nasties. I can buy organic, hormone free, pasture-raised meats if I wish and I am certain that even if I don't, the 'regular' human-grade meat available at the local grocery store is surely a step above the by-products in animal feed grade foods.

3... My Pets Love It!

Both my dog and my cat gobble up their food and enjoy their meals. No picky eating problems here. We have shared the food with other dogs, some of whom are picky eaters and they enjoy it too.

4... It's Really Not That Hard.

It just takes time and I choose to spend some of my time every week doing research about human-grade pet food, lovingly chopping up vegetables and cooking for my pets. I am convinced it is time well-spent.

I know that not every one will feel able to spend the time needed to cook for their animals. This is why we are making our human-grade pet food available for purchase to folks in our local area. We work with each pet owner to come up with a recipe that will work well for their pets.

WHAT goes into the food?

The simple answer is: It varies. But here are some staples:

• Ground turkey (or other ground meat for dogs that may be sensitive to poultry)
• Vegetables that vary based on what is in season and what I have on hand. These may include but are not limited to:
• Carrots, broccoli, zucchini, celery, spinach, kale, cabbage.
• Coconut oil, chia seeds, flax seeds, Brewer's yeast.
• Other food items that could help fulfill an individual pet's needs if they have a particular health problem or condition.

If you are not sure if your pet can tolerate certain ingredients or a change in diet, you may wish to try adding just a small amount of one ingredient at a time to their diet and increasing the amount given over several days, observing whether or not there are any adverse effects. As always, seek the advice of a veterinarian when making decisions about your pets' health. We encourage you to do your research and make an informed choice.

Enjoy, and don't hesitate contacting me,

Beth @ 93950.info