I may try this. I contacted them with a few questions and will wait to hear back from them and from THK to decide.

What I am really waiting for is a response from ED and Cindy.

 Quote: Carol Boche

What I am really waiting for is a response from ED and Cindy.

I got a response from Ed and he says he'll be responding to this tonight or tomorrow.

Here is another email from Lucy from THK:

: "Ingrid_Rosenquist" <Ingridnbuck@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: please remove me from your email list
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 19:47:09 -0600

Thank you for your email. The Honest Kitchen is mentioned on the PETA web site through our policy not to test our products on animals. PETA has a campaign going on at this time to warn people about the testing that the Iams Company conducts http://www.iamscruelty.com/notTested.asp and as a result, a number of pet food companies such as ourselves, are being showcased by PETA, for refusing to conduct laboratory testing. We use alternative methods in our product development projects, that involve pets who live in their own homes, not animals residing in laboratory kennels. In addition, we have contributed to a PETA project in December ’06 which provides sturdy weatherproof dog houses for dogs who are confined to yards without a kennel during the winter months. A little more info on this initiative can be found at http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-winterWatch.asp



In addition to this, our company consults with PETA on issues such as our search for humanely raised meats to use on our products, which is an important goal that we are striving to meet in the near future.



It is my understanding that while PETA did years ago, take a stance against pet ownership, their policy has changed significantly now. That said, if you have a link to a web site indicating that Pet’s mission is indeed to eliminate pets from the world, I would be most interested to read it. The fact that they do in fact support responsible pet ownership evidenced by their Iams Campaign which highlights cruelty free pet products (even those such as ours, which contain meat). In addition, their goal of trying to abolish puppy mills and target those who breed hundreds of animals a year for profit, is not directed at responsible breeders who work hard to further their breed. We all wish that there were no homeless animals on the streets and in shelters, but there is certainly a happy medium on this, as with most things.



I’d also like to take a moment to point out that the PETA Dog House Project is by no means the only non-profit initiative we have contributed to. We also donate regularly to the Humane Society, SPCA, Heifer International (which provides livestock such as cows, goats and llamas to impoverished families overseas to help them become self sufficient), UNICEF, and the HSVS Visiting Pets Program which is spearheaded by CJ Puotinen, an author & writer for the Whole Dog Journal. These are just a few of the charities we are involved with. We just launched our new web site today and there is a link on there about our various contributions to animal welfare, humanitarian and environmental causes if you are interested to read more. http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/company/giving_back.shtml



I am not sure if this information about our limited involvement with PETA on specific issues, combined with the other charities we support, in any way sets your mind at rest. I would be more than happy do discuss your thoughts in more detail if you would like to continue corresponding via email. We do select a new charity to support each month and if members of your forum have a specific charity in mind that you would like to nominate, we’d be delighted to consider them. Our company is not radical or extremist in its products, values or charitable contributions; we try to contribute to a variety of causes and the Dog Houses project was dear to our hearts. While we have contributed to them in the past, we do not donate the PETA on an ongoing basis and have many other worthy charities to contribute a portion of our profits to, going forward.



I would be glad also, to provide members of your forum with a gift certificate code for use on our company’s web site, as a sign of our commitment to our customers, if that would not offend. Please let me know.

To try to clarify our position further - My own two Rhodesian Ridgebacks are from a reputable breeder here in California whose policies are to breed very rarely, dedicate herself to producing healthy, happy dogs, track every puppy for the rest of its life and take back any dog immediately if the owner can no longer keep it for any reason at all. As a company, we are not ‘anti’ responsible breeding, though we do refrain from dealing with mass-scale puppy mills who breed for profit. I completely understand your stance on this matter and am continuing to address each email as it comes in, to try as best I can to explain our position.



Our donation to PETA was last year and we will not be donating to them again; there are many other worthy causes for us to support and some have already been suggested by members of other message boards. I am really not sure what else to tell you. We are not ashamed to have been involved with a project that supplied warm dog houses to dogs who had no shelter, nor of the fact that we do not conduct laboratory animal testing; and we are proud to be searching for humane meats to use in our products. I have requested that PETA remove our company listing from their web site in the hope that that would somehow help to alleviate the concerns of the people in your message boards, but the donation has been made - it cannot be taken back - but our support is not ongoing. I am not sure what else to tell you but I certainly will address any concerns that arise on your message board as best I can. I would be glad also, to provide members of your forum with a gift certificate code for use on our company’s web site, as a sign of our commitment to our customers, if that would not offend. Please let me know.



Do please feel free to email at any time with additional questions or comments.



Respectfully,



Lucy

I have been aware this thread since this morning.

I had a phone conversation today with Lucy Postins, one of the owners of Honest Kitchen.

I only sell honest kitchen dog food. When I made the call I was a more than upset, I was prepared to discontinue doing business with Honest Kitchen.

Let me begin this by saying that Lucy Postins is a very nice lady. With this said she is or was extremely naive about Peta, as are many people.

According to Lucy, who I believe, every month Honest Kitchen donates money to a charitable animal organization.

Lucy informed me that one of those donations was to a Peta project in December ’06 which provides sturdy weatherproof dog houses for dogs who are confined to yards without a kennel during the winter months.

They have a new web page that allows people to submit requests for donations. http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/company/giving_back.shtml

Lucy had no idea that Peta was a silent supporter of The Animal Liberation Front (ALF). I explained to her that ALF was the number one domestic terrorist organization on the FBI’s list.

After our conversation Lucy informed me that not only would she no longer support or donate to PETA. This afternoon she also contacted PETA and asked to have their name removed from their web site.

Bottom line for me is she made an honest mistake. Peta has been conning people for years. She is no more or less a victim than anyone else. I accept her explanation and she made it clear that this was not ever going to happen again.

Trust me – NO ONE HATES PETA more than I do. For me this is not an issue of not liking these people – I HATE THEM !!! I have been personally threatened by members of the animal liberation front for my position on Mink Farming (I wrote an article on how mink farmers can protect their property with dogs – it’s on my web site)

In my opinion there is only one way to deal with ALF and these PETA extremists. I will leave it up to those who know me best to determine what I mean by this.

With this said, I believe Lucy and I will continue to sell honest kitchen dog food. I believe it is the best all-natural dog food made in America. With this said on principle I was prepared to walk away from them if I did not like what I heard today.

I know that we will not see Honest Kitchen donating to PETA in the future.

WHEW!!!
Thanks Ed.
That is good to hear. Sometimes people just need to be made aware and it all works out in the end.

Thank you Ed for contacting her personally and preparing to take such a stand. Based on your discussion with Lucy, I will continue using their products as well (which is a great relief!)

I too, hate PETA. They have picketed my family's house and I have gotten hate mail from them since I was 14. Their reason to hate me? Because I supported bio-medical research involving animals. I am seizure free due to such research and countless people are alive thanks to said research.

That is neither here nor there for this forum though :-) Let's just say their hatred inspired me to go to law school and put low lifes like them away.

 Quote:

Lucy informed me that one of those donations was to a Peta project in December ’06 which provides sturdy weatherproof dog houses for dogs who are confined to yards without a kennel during the winter months.

huh? who owns the dogs? how does PETA get the dog houses to the dogs? how do they decide where the houses go? why would a dog owner who cares so little about his dog to leave it outside without shelter all winter accept any help from PETA?

there's gotta be more to that story. this makes the honest kitchen people sound more than a little naive.

 Quote: alice oliver

. . .huh? who owns the dogs? how does PETA get the dog houses to the dogs? how do they decide where the houses go? why would a dog owner who cares so little about his dog to leave it outside without shelter all winter accept any help from PETA?

there's gotta be more to that story. this makes the honest kitchen people sound more than a little naive.

I think the issue has been adequately addressed. If a company like THK has supported a group like PETA, due in part to naivete or a lack of information, it follows that they would be supportive of their projects. I think the THK responses in Ingrid's and Ed's posts make it clear that THK has been enlightened and will re-examine their corporate support of other organizations and change it when appropriate. I applaud their willingness to review their policies and address our concerns.

I think your emails/calls and Ed's conversation will more than adequately solve the problem with THK and PETA. I bet you won't see this anywhere on the news tonight, but a handful of people today changed something very big in the enviromentalist lobby.

Remember this when it's time for you to vote Not telling you who or what to vote for...just reminding all of us that even if we don't see anything on the news about our particular views being misrepresented, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Thanks Ed for relaying your message.

I sure do join Mike Armstrong, Mike Morrison, and others in my relief about Ed making personal contact and seeing it through.

IMO, this is a company (with a terrific product) well worth enlightening.

Quoting Mike A: I applaud their willingness to review their policies and address our concerns. END

Ditto.