Does it matter where I source my proteins?

First of all I would like to say yes, but also “ which protein “ ?

Really not that long ago a consumer would have very limited availability of dogfood or treats. The variety on the shelves has increased tremendously over the past decades. In the pet market itself this has always silently been regarded as an improvement. There’s a rather inconvenient side-effect to it which is hardly ever discussed.

Roughly 25% of the meat consumed worldwide is now used in petfood/feed. A few decades ago the proteins used would be from rendering and waste of the human consumption market. No animal was ever slaughtered for pet products was a good sales argument since it was true back then, but not anymore.

30 years ago I could buy dogfood with pork, beef or chicken and as a treat a bullystick, pig ear, something made out of hide, a knuckle or a stuffed tibia. And you would buy it cheap, makes sense since it is a waste product right? Where 50 cents would be normal 30 years ago, 10 USD is not weird today for a bullystick. For the very simple reason that a bull just has one pizzle and it has to be bought at human consumption pricing since it is simply not waste anymore. And this applies for a most of the products in this range. ??

So if a consumer goes to buy the same product now, and if the truth would be told to them it would look something like this.

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“Dear client, thank you for your purchase.

The chances are that the animal proteins in the food or treats you are feeding originate out of a country where the livestock is treated poorly is very big. ?Here are the facts of the two leading indexes ( VACI/API )

Should the protein have been imported out of one of the following countries

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49.? ??Australia ( tied for worst )

50.? ??Belarus ( tied for worst )

51.? ??United States

52.? ??Argentina

53.? ??Myanmar

54.? ??Iran

55.? ??Russia

56.? ??Brazil

57.? ??Marocco

58.? ??Chile

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Than according to the VACI it is “produced” in one of the top ten worst when it comes to animal cruelty. The API works with a different methodology, but as you can see https://api.worldanimalprotection.org/ these countries all do not score well. In fact there are only 4 countries that are in the green. Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands and the UK. The chance that you bought a product with animal protein out of these 4 countries is very slim. But also, how would you know ? The packaging does not list the origin of the ingredients, just where it has been produced. But realistically seen there’s a 90% chance? that the animal welfare standard in the country of origin is not something to applaud for” ??

?I am a firm believer that the pet industry will have to evolve to keep up with the consumer trend of ecological awareness and animal wellbeing/ responsible feeding. And turn to renewable protein sources / circular economies, like our products since they are certified 100% Swiss through track and trace. Solely made of milk or when so desired wrapped with a bit of meat at least knowing that Switzerland is one of the best countries in the world when it comes to protecting animals. The country prohibits both the suffering and harm of animals without justification, meaning causing harm without having the right farming or food manufacturing rights is illegal. The country uses laws that, if breached, results in a ban on keeping, breeding or trading animals. But it’s not just wild animals that are protected in Switzerland, as many pets are protected by these laws too. It is illegal to mistreat farm animals, conduct animal testing of any kind, use barking inhibitors, harm stray dogs and part social animals. Social animals that must be kept in pairs include, guinea pigs and rabbits, which means you’d be breaking the law and potentially face a prison sentence if you only bought one rabbit, as an example, to keep as a pet!

Cats are also classed as solo pets in Switzerland, which means by law they must have daily interaction with humans or be able to access other cats to remain socialised. And that’s not all, Swiss laws also require all dogs to be microchipped and registered to ensure owners hold accountability for their ownership and cannot get away with mistreating their pet.

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The Swiss Animal Welfare Act protects the welfare and dignity of animals. Serious infringements of its provisions may lead to a ban on keeping animals, breeding animals, handling animals commercially, or trading in animals.

The Act applies apart from a few exceptions for vertebrates. A basic principle of the Act is that no person may improperly subject an animal to pain, suffering, harm or fear, or otherwise violate its dignity. With some exceptions, painful procedures must be carried out under anaesthesia. The Act states that, when dealing with an animal, its dignity, i.e. its inherent worth, must be respected. Any strains to which an animal is exposed through its use must be justified by overriding interests as part of a weighing of interests. In many cases, the result of such a weighing of interests is already stipulated in the Swiss Animal Protection Ordinance as an explicitly prohibited procedure or as a requirement. However, all applications to conduct animal experiments must undergo a weighing of interests.

The Swiss Animal Protection Ordinance contains the minimum requirements for the keeping and use of animals. Among other provisions, it stipulates the minimum dimensions and equipment for enclosures, enrichment options and social contacts, outdoor runs and animal house climate. Further animal welfare provisions are outlined in the following sections.

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