News & Newsletters: Page 786

Rolf C. Hagen discusses the pet product company's founding, future

Rolf C. Hagen immigrated to Canada 56 years ago, bringing his import/export pet product business with him. The company, Rolf C. Hagen Inc., is now a large privately held pet product manufacturer, headed by his son, Rolf Hagen Jr.

Hill's Pet Nutrition gives away Smart Car to veterinary technician

Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes selected Kelly Kline of Neffsville Veterinary Clinic in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, as one of three national winners of a new Smart Car. Three cars will be given away in the United States and one in Canada as part of the sweepstakes.

Kelly Kline was randomly selected as the winner of a new Smart Car from Hill's Pet Nutrition's Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes.

Pet product company founder Rolf C. Hagen dies

Rolf C. Hagen Inc. founder and chairman, Rolf C. Hagen, died October 23, at the age of 79 in his home in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Hagen, born in Hambug, Germany, in 1932, entered into an apprenticeship with a fish and petfood industry importer and exporter in Hamburg following completion of his schooling.

UK-based BARF Pet Foods introduces new beef dog bones

A UK petfood maker, BARF Pet Foods, introduced a range of new bone treats for dogs, following the principles of the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet. The new dog treats include Beef Neck Bones and Beef Hock Bones.

Market Trends and Reports

Petco kicks off National Pet Food Drive on October 30

From October 30 through November 13, Petco and the Petco Foundation will host the second annual National Pet Food Drive to collect petfood and litter donations at stores in the United States. During the two-week drive, consumers can pick up extra food or litter during their shopping trip or bring unopened cans or bags from home, and drop it into the marked petfood collection bins located in each of the more than 1,100 Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores nationwide.

Human food trends not necessarily adequate for pets, vet cautions

As people opt for more organic foods, the trend is also crossing over to petfoods, but a veterinarian is cautioning pet owners that these human food trends may not always meet the nutritional needs of pets. In a recent Huffington Post article, Dr. Karen Becker says that dogs and cats need wholesome, "living foods," just as people do.

Nutro Co. scientist discusses using poultry by-products as petfood ingredients

USPOULTRY and the Poultry Protein and Fat Council recently discussed using poultry by-products as petfood ingredients at the 2011 Poultry Protein and Fat Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. In his presentation, The Importance of Rendered Ingredients in Pet Foods, Jim Eastin, supplier quality assurance scientist for Nutro Company, provided an overview of the dry pet food process and examined the benefits of chicken meal and poultry fat in pets' diets.

Market Trends and Reports

Veterinarians claim 'free' Hill's Prescription Diet cat food samples not really free

Veterinary clinics across the United States are complaining after accepting offers of free “starter kits” of Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s Prescription Diet y/d Feline Thyroid Health formula, but then being billed for and shipped more petfood that the clinics claim was not ordered. On a message board of the Veterinary Information Network, an online community for veterinary professionals, the veterinarians claim they accepted the free petfood samples, but were unaware that doing so automatically signed them up for paid orders from Hill's, as well.

Natura Pet Products expands California Natural dog food line

Natura Pet Products expanded its California Natural grain-free petfood line with the introduction of two new dog food formulas. In addition to the Venison Meal, Lamb Meal and Chicken Meal formulas in the California Natural line, a Kangaroo & Red Lentils formula and Salmon Meal & Peas formula were added for adult dogs.

Natura's California Natural line now includes the Kangaroo & Red Lentils and Salmon Meal & Peas formulas for dogs.

Netherlands-based Scholtus Special Products acquires dog treat maker

European semi-moist cat and dog treat maker Scholtus Special Products B.V. acquired GH Prins & Zonen B.V. from its Proline Petfood business unit, a dog treat maker. Beginning in January 2012, Proline will operate from Scholtus' production facilities in Renswoude, the Netherlands.

Pet ownership, pet care spending on the rise in Asia

Asia's aggregate pet population now exceeds 488 million, according to Euromonitor, evidence of the growing trends of pet ownership and pet care spending worldwide. As people grow wealthier and couples have fewer children, pets become more popular, an article from Forbes says.

NASC Adverse-Event Reporting System minimizes pet, human contamination risks

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a recall on October 6 for Salmonella contamination in Thumb Oilseed’s soy flour, which is used to manufacture certain animal foods. But, the National Animal Supplement Council's ability to scan thousands of products and ingredients in its NASC Adverse-Event Reporting System allowed NASC to identify 27 products containing soy flour and notify the eight companies selling these products with specific instructions on how to check the ingredient with raw material suppliers.

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