Concrete Assistance

Warning:  this one from David Prossen in Comfort, Texas will bring a tear to your eye:

I just heard of Feline’s Pride conflict with the FDA.  Just for the record my beloved birman eleven year old cat would not be alive if not for the quality product made by Shelby and his staff.  I won’t bore you with yet another of the many true stories of how feeding FP to our birman brought him back to life from death’s door, and it has restored him to an incredibly healthy status as of this date, but that’s exactly what happened.  Yes, he went from a 5.8 pound lifeless bag of bones to 9.0 pounds of muscle and determination.  He now acts like a two year old cat and is the boss cat over his subjects who are twice his size.  Amazing to say the least!

Instead I just sent a $200 contribution to Feline’s Pride to provide some concrete assistance to the company and help them deal with our bloated governmental FDA.  If any of you read this email please think about sending Feline’s Pride a financial contribution to help them as well.  I know there are a lot of us out there who need Shelby and Feline’s Pride to continue doing the great work they have done over the past years.

El Wood

God bless Shelby and his crew for helping us and all of our feline family members out there somewhere.

David in Comfort, Texas

It's important to know, David made good on his words too.  And Shelby shed a tear (probably more).
Thank you David.  It's people like you that make it all worthwhile. Truly. 

The Quality Control...Is Outstanding

Feline's Pride is so grateful to its long time customers and their kitties.  Our customers know why we are here, and further understand what's going on.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter on behalf of Shelby Gomas.  I have known Shelby for several years.   I also purchase the Feline's Pride food for my Persian Cat.  This food allows me to keep my cat healthy.  Before I introduced her to Feline's Pride raw diet she had multiple health problems.  At present my cat is healthy and happy.

I recently became aware of the Food and Drug Administration action against this wonderful company.  I am devastated and ashamed such a reputable organization is playing dirty with a small company.  I reviewed the testing techniques FDA is using.  I also reviewed the techniques the USDA is using.  It is apparent what FDA is using is much stricter criteria than USDA.  USDA allows certain percentage of dangerous bacteria in the poultry.  Feline's Pride uses chicken which is of food quality.  He, Shelby Gomas, purchases his chicken from Perdue.  So it is a scary thought the chicken we use for consumption tested positive for salmonella.

I am aware of practices Feline's Pride uses.  It's facility is clean and appropriate for handling any type of standards.  The quality control which Feline's Pride uses is outstanding.  I also would like to mention that our 2 federal agencies could not develop similar criteria for testing.  It is a shame how much this small company suffers basically because 2 federal agencies are in a disagreement.   

This recall was totally unnecessary.   

No animal has become sick from eating Feline's Pride raw diet.  The only thing I can imagine is big industry producing artificial Cat Food have special interests to shoot the Feline's Pride operation and used the FDA as its weapon.  I will definitely continue to use Feline's Pride Food.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion.

Sincerely,

Mikhail Strutsovskiy M.D.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 

Pain Management Service and Cosmetic Dermatology

Cheektowaga, NY 

Thank you Dr. Strutsovskiy.  We are all very appreciative of the assistance of the many professionals who have helped us to understand the depth and breadth of what's been taking place.  It's been quite the learning curve, and we are grateful for your professional review of the technical information!

Keep Up the Good Fight!

Roni Kitchell from Edison, New Jersey sends this to Feline's Pride today: 

I have two "babies"--10 and 15 years young.  The 15 year old used to keep to herself and sleep most of the time.  After being on Feline's Pride for only a short time, she is acting like a 'kid' again.  She now socializes with me, sits with me on the couch, climbs all over the couches, and isn't afraid to stick up for herself against my younger, alpha-cat.  All this from the once-quiet kitty who kept to herself and didn't venture out of the bedroom.  She's a long hair and her fur used to knot up so much, I'd have to cut the knots out because it was too painful to brush them out.  Now she is knot free and her coat shines.  She also used to be a picky eater--she'd have to be coaxed into eating her dry kibble but now she needs no coaching to eat her raw food.   The vet is quite impressed with their health, especially since they are considered senior citizens. My girls will never be without this food!

Keep up the great work and keep up the good fight against the money-hungry FDA!

Thank you Roni!  This has been a MONUMENTAL task for a small company, bent on high quality nutrition for our cats.  It's quite clear that the FDA and Feline's Pride have two entirely different goals in mind.


Feline's Pride is ALL ABOUT THE CATS.  No other interest is at play for this company.  Period.

Full Disclosure

A Feline's Pride distributor, Stephanie Hatfield received this comment about the recall from her customer, when Stephanie provided her the information about the recall:

Stephie,

Thank you for full disclosure, but here is my 2 cents:  He is a small business and successful.  He provides top quality pet food that could not be duplicated by the Purinas of the world because they have to give their offerings to the Gods of profit and capitalism.  Sad to say that certain elements of our US government are in bed with the big corporations and if people still don't believe that after witnessing the disaster that has occurred with the BP oil spill, then they are most certainly asleep.

The way the food was transported was no accident.  That it tested positive is no accident.  I'm in Shelby's corner and will not be frightened off by this incident.

I will be on my way to you shortly.  See you soon.

Kate

No need to elaborate on that.  Thank you Stephie and Kate!

Update

In our timely conversations, by phone or email, Shelby Gomas keeps us up to date on the progress made with the FDA.  It's not easy, as he's a small operation, and it appears they just don't really care.  Here's a bit of an update from Shelby from yesterday:

I have made a commitment to reflect the neglect we have received by completely adding everything that will add to our defense.  We have left e-mails with the FDA, phone calls…unanswered and have literally been left for “ dead .”  Thanks to the support of our customers and the intelligence they have accumulated.. their support still continues and overwhelms me with their loyalty for what we have done over the last 5 years.  

I will do whatever I have to do overturn the damage that has been done.  It is totally unforgivable.  

Do you realize that for every 100,000 people in the United States, they [FDA/USDA] expect 15 people to die of salmonella?  They are literally allowed to statistically die from something this government is totally capable of eradicating out of the USDA processing practices. They are literally allowed to murder 15 people out of 100,000 without question…..unbelievable!

And yet, the FDA requires that Shelby use USDA certified source materials to make our kitty food.   

But hey, go figure.  Cue the chorus in 3...2...1... 

I Found What I Wanted to Know

Lori Findlay of Florida sent this to Shelby yesterday:

I'm a new customer as of last month, but just heard about your recall.  As I was preparing to write and ask for more info, I found what I wanted to know on your website.  I just finished reading your explanation of what’s happened to you & your company so recently.  Pardon my French, but that sucks.....  it really sucks. 

I'm a small business owner as well.  I have a Master's in Nursing and was in the health care for twenty some years, before my husband & I went into business for ourselves.  I empathize with what you must be going through and understand how you must feel.  The FDA is a complete & total farce.  I knew someone years ago who's MD spouse left his practice to work for the FDA and became immediately disillusioned by the corruption.  I wish I could recall some of the stories she told, but I don't.  I just recall determining that it was clear there was little integrity in the organization.

Well, it's late and time to get to bed.  But just wanted to offer a voice of support and tell you to hang in there.  Don't let the bastards get you down!

Thank you Lori, your comments have echoed many others we've heard, and it's just so sad to hear it said again.  But then again, your "voice of support", is greatly appreciated, because, in the end, it's all about the cats, no?  


Simply put, we just want a quality raw cat food for our cats, and we have that in Feline's Pride!   

Please Stop Wasting the Taxpayer's Money

Here's a straight comment, coming from Amy Stockman, a PhD Candidate in Biology at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.  Amy writes this to the FDA:

Please desist your investigation into Feline's Pride Cat Food.  A raw meat diet is what is best for cats' biology.  They are able to withstand small amounts of pathogens.  Furthermore, the investigation was not based on any complaints from consumers.  Indeed, cats who regularly consume a raw meat diet are some of the healthiest cats around.  It is a shame that companies are allowed to sell carbohydrate and meat by-product based cat foods, and that for most Americans, this is their only option when shopping.  That is not healthy food for a cat.  Feline's Pride provides a healthy, natural alternative. 

Please stop wasting the taxpayers' money into this unwarranted investigation.  You are supporting corporations who produce horrible products, and placing obstacles in the path of career growth to a small business who sells a very high quality product to grateful customers with healthy, happy cats.

Thank you Amy!  It appropriate to suggest that a PhD Candidate in Biology has more at her fingertips in terms of technical data and understanding of the greater issues here than many.  Thank you so much for your support Amy!