This book was written to make pet owners aware of what they were feeding their pets when they feed commercial pet foods. Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food outlines the fact that this is virtually an unregulated industry and that anything is fair game for use in these foods.

The sources of protein are deplorable: 4-D material, condemned and contaminated meat from slaughterhouse facilities, road kill, zoo animals, and even euthanized companion animals can be used. The FDA/CVM is well aware of the use of companion animals in these foods. Although they state they don't condone the practice, they take no steps to prohibit it.

The industry and veterinarians promote the use of these foods. Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association accept big payoffs from the industry. Just last month the AVMA received funding in the amount of $1 million dollars from Science Diet. The veterinary profession is not about to bite the hand that feeds it.

There is an alternative: home made food. Pets that have been taken off commercial food and are fed a home made diet thrive; vet bills are reduced to virtually nothing.

It is the consumers -- the pet owners -- that will make a difference. Government won't stop the unethical tactics of this industry.

My advice to consumers: if you are going to continue to feed this garbage, ask questions of the company from whom you are purchasing the food. Ask for the sources of the meat, and the meat and bone meal they are using. Ask for the name of the rendering plant or slaughterhouse the meat is coming from. Ask if they (the pet food company) actually tests the product to ascertain if it is free of companion animals, drugs, pathogens, heavy metals, and pesticides. Ask if the grains used are whole grains -- not sweepings and discards from the milling process.

Question. And if they can't supply the answers, don't buy the product. You have a right to know what is in the can or bag you are feeding your pet.

Ann Martin is the author of Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food. First published in October 1997, the book has been phenomenally successful; the first printing sold out in the U.S. and Canada in just three weeks. You can purchase your copy from the Canine Nutrition department of Workingdogs.com Book Store.