I mentioned in the other thread that I had contacted them. There are two sides to every story. I have to wonder about this, though, because those pictures would have to come from somewhere--and it would be slander for PETA to assert that they were from IAMS-funded facilities if they weren't.
There is a comment here about "that a human would volunteer to join." That's a serious thing. Researchers really laid down the law on the types of studies that are permitted. Reality TV is actually back-sliding. Studies like the Standford Prison experiment would never happen today, and I don't even think it was that bad.
I think of PETA as a reactionary organization--with good intentions, but reactionary.
So now I really can't believe that either PETA or IAMS is telling the complete truth. Basically because--sure, if IAMS doesn't
usually treat animals so horribly, what was up in that one lab? Because I think we can assume that, for the
most part, the things PETA asserts happened really did happen.
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Dear
[email protected]:
Thank you sharing your concerns with us regarding our animal research
policy. I am familiar with the site you referenced and I would like to take
this opportunity to update you on the events that inspired your message.
Early in 2003, an activist group initiated a sensational and misleading
campaign to forcefully persuade Iams not to conduct nutritional studies. The
Iams Company and its employees are passionate about cats and dogs with a
deep commitment to their health and welfare, so we understand how important
this issue is to you. We pledge complete openness on this subject so you can
feel good about feeding your pets a proven product that is compassionately
studied to help dogs and cats live longer and healthier lives.
The Iams mission is to enhance the well-being of dogs and cats by providing
world class nutrition and pet care products. To accomplish this mission for
our customers, we have to know dogs and cats better than anyone. We put that
knowledge into Eukanuba and Iams products that feed an estimated 30 million
pets throughout the world every day, and that's a responsibility we take
very seriously.
We work with dogs and cats to prove that our pet foods provide true
nutritional healthcare. One great example of this is the addition of our
Iams Daily Dental Care to all Iams Dog Food formulas. By studying pets using
this product, we were able to prove that it helps reduce tartar by up to 50
percent, a development that helps address a serious health problem among
more than 85 percent of the world's dogs. These types of feeding studies are
the same kind that a human would volunteer to join, and they are only
conducted within the strict guidelines of a detailed, industry-leading
research policy that we have urged the rest of the industry to adopt. At the
same time, cats and dogs on the Iams team get plenty of exercise and
socialization that includes interaction with other cats and dogs as well as
people.
In addition, we continue to enhance our practices with the help of an
independent seven-member International Animal Care Advisory Board that
includes some of the world's leading experts on animal care, welfare and
ethics.
Further details on our Animal Care Advisory Board (including updates from
the Board), a timeline of the events of the past year, video footage of our
socialization program in action, and our complete Research Policy are
available on our company web site located at
www.iamsco.com.
When you visit us online, please take a look at the credentials of our
independent Advisory Board, which includes executives from the ASPCA and the
Humane Society of the United States along with European experts. These
respected individuals have full access to review any facility where Iams is
working with pets, and they will continue to provide us with valued outside
advice. We believe there is no other qualified authority that can better
judge how we care for the dogs and cats in our feeding studies.
To access this information, please copy-and-paste the following URLs to your
web browser. Because links sometimes get distorted through e-mail, please be
sure to copy-and-paste the complete URL to your web browser:
Update on Iams Nutritional Studies (with links to video footage of our
socialization program in action)
http://www.iamsco.com/en_US/jhtmls/iamsco/news/sw_in_News_page.jhtml?li=en_U
S&bc=C&pti=IN&ai=1225
Leading Change
http://www.iamsco.com/en_US/jhtmls/iamsco/news/sw_in_News_page.jhtml?li=en_U
S&bc=C&pti=IN&ai=1386
Animal Care Advisory Board Meets
http://www.iamsco.com/en_US/jhtmls/iamsco/news/sw_in_News_page.jhtml?li=en_U
S&bc=C&pti=IN&ai=1365
Animal Care Advisory Board Site Observations
http://www.iamsco.com/en_US/jhtmls/iamsco/news/sw_in_News_page.jhtml?li=en_U
S&bc=C&pti=IN&ai=1366
Also, you might be interested in these URLs from the ASPCA's web site
(
www.aspca.org)
The ASPCA and Iams
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iamsresearch
Details on the March 4, 2004 site visit
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iams031104
Details on the April 14, 2003 visit
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iams041403
Thank you again for taking the time to contact us and for giving us the
opportunity to respond with the facts. If you need further information or
have specific questions, please visit the web site or contact our Consumer
Care team at 800-525-4267.
Sincerely,
Tina
Iams Consumer Care, North America