3021a Oakland Dr.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Phone: 269-383-8334
Fax: 269-383-8433
Meeting Minutes
May
17, 2004
Next meeting: June 21, 2004@ 6:30
Meeting special:
Save 10% on any Oma’s pride product in stock (Bark’s is ordering a small quantity to stock for
those who did not get to place an order)
Save 20% on “Raise your paw for Raw”
T-shirts
Next topic: Allergies –how to identify a problem &
treatment options
May 17 topic (Stretching the diet):
We had a nice discussion
about stretching the diet. Although we
would all like to be purists, this is not always financially possible. Most folks at the meeting said they use
“other” products to stretch the diet.
It is important to acknowledge that everyone does the best they can
based on time, finances, and the pets particular situation. We, Bark’s and this group, support
everyone’s efforts to improve the health of their pets through diet.
¨ I, personally(Deb), was pleasantly surprised to have
a new member join us who, also, uses the SoJourners. In fact, she traveled to our meeting from Grand Rapids because
she found Bark’s as a supplier on the SoJo’s website. SoJourners is a rolled oats product with pecans, dried vegetables,
and more included in the mix. It is
based on a European style diet where raw meat is added.
¨ The group discussed that rolled oats were noted by
Billinghurst to be the least offensive of the carbohydrate products, so the
group felt it was a good alternative.
Several of our Barf diet folks use this product.
o Deb noted she mixes the SoJourners product with her
vegetable meals to give them more substance and filling power. Ruby, her dog, prefers the vegetables this
way as she likes the product. Deb,
also, uses it when she forgets to thaw something and just mixes whatever is at
hand raw eggs, applesauce, cottage cheese, left overs, so on. A little moisture is nice and makes it
easier to eat.
o Sue said she adds water and lets it sit for several hours
then feeds it as a meal.
o Deb said a 10lb bag will last a couple of months and
Sue conquered.
o Others use Wysong or other kibble products to stretch
the diet. Everyone who attended said
the stretch the diet in some way.
¨ Patty uses sweet potatoes when she needs to add
weight to her dogs.
¨ Help! Information
requested at the meeting from the person who discussed previously a sort of pot
luck slump that she incubates/ ferments in the oven for several days (I think
with the oven off. Is this you? please forward your “recipe” for distribution.
¨
We reviewed the Oma’s
pride offerings and those present created their orders.
¨
They offer considerable
savings when you order in 5# or 10# sleeves.
We briefly touched on refreezing partially thawed products (to divide)
and many in the group do this. We are
interested in others opinions or information on this matter.
¨
Sue told the group
about Taylor Pond Farms as a source for Rabbit.
¨
We discussed dogs not
liking certain foods. Deb uses Call of
the Wild a Wysong supplement for Ruby
and she said if it has that on it she will eat it. Fasting works too.