Relief for concerned pet owners

Dogs and cats can often be picky eaters, which shows how smart they are. A series of recent pet food recalls, in the wake of the deaths of dogs and cats caused by contaminated food, is leading more and more pet owners to become the choosy ones.

Shopping around for safe pet food can now be added to the list of life's annoyances, but it's one that a Middle Tennessee couple can help you cross off the list. Jeff and Shani Duncan are the owners of Nature's Select Super Premium Pet Food of Middle TN, safe and nutritional pet products at prices that won't dog your budget, and the convenience of free home delivery. No need to run out and by pet food, just call, email or order online, they even have a catchy website name that is easy to remember, www.DeliverMyPetFood.com. Nature's Select is custom-blended food sold nationwide by dozens of local companies offering free home delivery. The food contains no fillers (corn, soy, wheat), chemical preservatives, animal fat, or by-products. It is also free of gluten, an inexpensive protein found in almost all commercial pet foods (it adds thickness and chewiness); FDA testing of wheat gluten in cat and dog food last spring turned up the chemical melamine, which can be toxic in high doses. Over 100 brands of both cat and dog food were recalled for fear of being tainted after an unknown number of pets became ill or died after eating food made with ingredients from China that included melamine. Nature's Select pet foods are made in the U.S.A., and none of the ingredients are ever imported from China.

Nature's Select uses whole meats (no by-products), whole ground rice and natural preservatives like Vitamin C and E and rosemary extract. Chicken, Rice & Lamb is the most popular of its seven formulas; the others are Ultra-Lite/Senior, for canines long in the tooth or dogged by weight gain; High Protein for Puppies; Lamb & Rice for large-breed puppies and dogs that like a little extra protein; Chicken & Rice with Glucosamine for dogs with joint issues; Salmon & Sweet Potato with blueberries and cranberries (great for dogs with food allergies); and Feline Premium, also a "super premium" food for cats.

In contrast, the cans in the case of "premium" dog food I just purchased elsewhere for my three dogs, for example, carry this analysis: 8 percent crude protein, 1 percent crude fiber and maximum 82 percent moisture; wheat glutens, of course, steamed bone meal, animal fat, and meat by-products - meaning the feet, necks, beaks, intestines, and pretty much anything except the feathers of a chicken. Nature's Select offers free delivery to most areas weekly, so customers can order food when it's convenient. They also offer a wide selection of nutritious treats and supplements. You don't even have to take a trip to the store, you can order via phone, email, or browse and buy online at www.DeliverMyPetFood.com. No contracts or commitments, just order what you want, when you need it. You don't have to be home to enjoy the service; they'll put the food where it is most convenient for you: front porch, back deck, by the garage, etc. or leave your bin outside on delivery day, and the company will put in a fresh liner, put the new food on the bottom and any leftover food on top. Considering the free delivery, 50 pounds of Nature's Select often costs less than the premium foods found in retail chain stores. Since it's so much more healthful, your pets should feel less hungry as their bodies take in more vitamins and minerals. Pets often eat up to a third less and produce less waste, which means a tidier yard. The company offers a money-back guarantee on its food, and it offers a referral program in which customers can earn free food and treats. Shani Duncan was a Nature's Select customer when she lived in Texas. Her dogs loved the food, and she loved the convenience. "I ordered 100 pounds of food about every two to three months," she says. "When I needed food I would call for delivery (sometimes on the day of), and they always seemed to be able to work me in. I'd leave my bin outside my garage and when I got home it would be filled with fresh food." When she moved here and got married, she and Jeff visited local pet stores doggedly, without finding a food that lived up to their standards. They, and their dogs, wanted their Nature's Select, but it was not available. The rest is history - maybe a case of the tail wagging the dog, but a happy tail, or tale, nonetheless. They have over 1,000 customers, and some great stories. They've made pets pickier, true, but that just goes to show that dogs and cats often know what's good for them.

To order, or request a free sample of pet food delivered to your door, call Nature's Select Pet Food of Middle Tennessee at 615-656-3323; email petfood@comcast.net, or visit www.DeliverMyPetFood.com.