This is so cool, that we just had to share it with y'all ...

The last SIX (6) eggs that we have cracked open have ALL been double yokes!  How cool is that?!

Have y'all ever experienced something like this? We have six more eggs to go ... wonder if they will be double yoked too?!

By-the-way ... I LOVE eggs! Yum! ♥

~Zena

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date Tuesday, May 22, 2012

 







We received this from the song-writer/musician, Dan Reising, asking if we would mind passing it along ...

So here ya go,
~Pamela~

Btw ... paintings are by Seattle artist Nancy Schutt.

date Wednesday, May 9, 2012

 




We are so upset this morning! We have been lied to.

Last month, as you already may know if you read our blog, Diamond Pet Foods release a notice about a dry dog food recall on a product made at their South Carolina plant, due to a possible Salmonella contamination.  A week later they shut this plant down.

The week after that, another dry dog food recall ... and another, and another, and so on, and so on. As of this morning's recalls listed below, we are now up to 12+ dog food recalls. Twelve dog food COMPANIES, that is.  There are been so many different brands & varieties, that to be honest, we have lost track of them all.  It would be almost a full-time job to keep track.

On top of it all, as you may have also already read in our blog, the Centers for Disease Control has also issued a notice regarding an outbreak of illness in PEOPLE who have TOUCHED the dog foods listed in the recall, and then were infected with  Salmonella.

Why are we so angry, you ask?  Who lied to us?

Well, Diamond Pet Foods for one. When this first broke a month ago, we spoke with a representative of their company, and they totally played down the issue ... saying that it was only one brand/variety of dog food that MIGHT be affected, that no dogs had gotten sick, and that they were just being "proactive". This was all a lie.  If you look at the report from the CDC, and read all the recalls released in the past few days ... you will see that this has been a concern since LAST YEAR.

Who else lied to us?  Wellness/WellPet foods lied to us.  We also contacted their company directly to inquire as to whether ANY of their foods/products/treats were manufactured in the Diamond Pet Foods plant in South Carolina.  We were told (in writing) that "Diamond no longer produces any Wellness products." So we felt we were "safe", and let our clients know that they were too.

Now we see this recall today. Why recall ANY of your foods, if NONE are made in the Diamond plant??? Because Wellness LIED.

We STRONGLY encourage everyone to please open your eyes to all that is happening at the Diamond plant in South Carolina.

A company does not close down their plant, if it is "no big deal".

Dog foods are not recalled right and left (12+ recalls, so far?) in a few weeks time, if there is "no problem".

The Centers for Disease Control does not release a warning that people are getting sick all over the USA from TOUCHING the dog foods listed in the recalls, if this was "rare ... not happening very often".

However, the plant IS closed down, dog foods ARE being recalled all over the place, and the Centers for Disease Control DID release a public warning! Sounds like a BIG DEAL to us!






Below is a list of all the companies that have RECALLED their pet food manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods in the South Carolina facility (just click on their name to be taken to detailed recall notice):


Last word of advice ... please be aware that where you live, does not make you "safe" from this recall.  

We live in a society where products are shipped all over the place, especially with the ability to order online.  So please check your bags, to see if they are on the recall list.  Or better yet, do as we are going to do in our home ... discontinue feeding ALL of the above foods, and switch to a company that has never had any in recalls at their plant.

Or stop feeding dry dog food kibble all together, and cook for your doggies just as you do the rest of your family.  ;-O
  

date Saturday, May 5, 2012

 



Remember that "smoke" we mentioned yesterday ... well, looks like there is a "fire" after all.

In typical form, Diamond Pet Foods sent out an end-of-the-day/end-of-the-week/hope-no-one-notices news release late this afternoon, listing additional dog foods that are being added to their RECALL.  Below is a copy of their release, if you wish to read it.

Long story short, these are the dry dog foods on the recall list:

  • Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
  • Country Value
  • Diamond
  • Diamond Naturals
  • Premium Edge
  • Professional
  • 4Health
  • Taste of the Wild
  • Kirkland (sold at Costco)

Just hoping that this does not turn into a "raging fire" ...

~ Zena  (A Boxer girlie who is glad she does not eat any of the above)


*** Reminder ... these dog foods are also manufactured by Diamond, but not on the recall list (yet):

-Canidae/Felidae
-Solid Gold Health Products for Pets*
-Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Pet Foods
-4Health (sold at Tractor Supply Co)










Diamond Expands Voluntary Recall

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall of Dry Pet Food Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Batches of the brands manufactured between
December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 are affected
Consumer Contact: 866-918-8756
Media Contact: 816-255-1974
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 4, 2012
Diamond Pet Foods today announced that it is expanding a voluntary recall to include batches of nine brands of dry pet food formulas manufactured between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 due to potential Salmonella contamination.

In April 2012, Diamond Pet Foods initiated three voluntary recalls of Diamond manufactured dry dog food. Although none of the additional products being recalled have tested positive for Salmonella, the company is pulling them from store shelves as a precaution. Diamond Pet Foods is coordinating efforts with federal and state health and regulatory agencies and decided to independently expand the recall to ensure the safety and well-being of customers and their pets.
The company stated: “We have taken corrective actions at our Gaston, S.C., facility and voluntarily expanded the recall out of concern for our customers and their pets.”
Brands included in the recall include:
  • Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
  • Country Value
  • Diamond
  • Diamond Naturals
  • Premium Edge
  • Professional
  • 4Health
  • Taste of the Wild
To determine if their pet food is recalled, consumers should check the production codes on the back of bags that have a number “2” or a “3” in the 9th or 10th digit and an “X” in the 11th digit. The best-before dates for the recalled brands listed above are December 9, 2012 through April 7, 2013.
The following graphic illustrates how to read the production code and best-before date:

The recall affects only products distributed in the following U.S. states and Canada.  Further distribution through other pet food channels may [edit -VERY LIKELY] have occurred.
  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • Canada
The Kirkland Signature products included in the recall include:
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula (December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
  • Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs (December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
To determine if their pet food is recalled, consumers should check the production codes on the back of bags must have both a number “3” in the 10th digit and an “X” in the 11th digit. The best-before dates for the recalled brands listed are December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013.
The following illustrates how to read the production code and best-before date:
The recall affects only products distributed in the following U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Canada.
  • Alabama
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Canada
  • Puerto Rico
Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any issues this may cause consumers and their pets. Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods via a toll free call at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST.  Consumers may also go to a special website, www.diamondpetrecall.com, for more information. The company is working with distributors and retailers to ensure all affected product is removed from shelves.
Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have received a limited number of reports of salmonellosis, the illness caused by Salmonella. We are working with the CDC, but due to patient confidentiality, we cannot comment further.


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date Friday, May 4, 2012

 




First the dogs, now it's people ... a notice from the Centers for Disease Control came out today regarding PEOPLE getting sick from touching contaminated pet food manufactured at Diamond Pet Foods plant in South Carolina.


As we have said several times over the past few weeks ... "where there is smoke, there is fire" ... if it were us, we would NOT feed our dogs ANY dog foods made by Diamond Pet Foods in their South Carolina plant:

-Diamond Pet Foods
-Kirkland Dog Food (sold at Costco)
-Taste of the Wild*
-Canidae/Felidae
-Solid Gold Health Products for Pets*
-Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Pet Foods
-Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
-4Health (sold at Tractor Supply Co)


 Also, a friendly reminder ... make sure to always wash your hands with soap after handling all pet foods.

date Thursday, May 3, 2012

 


Look what we have on our pond ♥ >>>










... love babies! ♥ 


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date Wednesday, May 2, 2012

 



First it was a recall on the Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dry dog food, then they shut their South Carolina plant down. Next was the recall of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food, and now TODAY, Diamond Pet Foods has issued a recall of their Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food. All due to salmonella concerns.

Here are the details/production codes for Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food:
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 40 lb. DPP0401B22XJW 6-Apr-2013
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 40 lb. DPP0401A21XAW 6-Apr-2013
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 40 lb. DPP0101C31XME 11-Jan-2013
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 40 lb. DPP0401B21XDJ 7-Apr-2013
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 20 lb. DPP0401B22XJW 6-Apr-2013
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 20 lb. DPP0101C31XME 11-Jan-2013
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 20 lb. DPP0101C31XRB 11-Jan-2013
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 8 lb. DPP0401B2XALW 7-Apr-2013
  • Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food 6 oz. samples DPP0401
Consumers who have purchased Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food with these production codes and best before dates should immediately discontinue feeding it to their dogs.

For more information about this recall, consumers can contact Diamond Pet Foods at 800-442-0402.


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date Tuesday, May 1, 2012

 
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