Norwich pet store enterprise couple ban in style treats
The owners of two pet stores in Norwich have announced that they will no longer sell popular treats for health and safety reasons.
Adrian and Ali Pettitt, who own Pettitt and Boo in Bowthorpe and Fido’s of Hellesdon, say they won’t be selling goodies like rawhide chewing, boiled bones, and chocolate coins.
Mr Pettitt said, “Rawhide is made with a wide variety of nasty chemicals, including bleaches, glues and dyes, but not only that, a sticky, chewed rawhide bone poses a significant risk of suffocation for pets.”
Pet owners are warned about harmful treats.
– Photo credit: Getty Images / iStockphoto
Rawhide chew is made from animal hides such as deer, cows, and horses. They are designed for dental hygiene.
But Mr Pettitt said it can cause more problems than they are worth.
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He added, “If a dog swallows a large piece of rawhide, it can get stuck in the esophagus or further down the digestive tract. A veterinarian may be able to remove these parts through the neck.
“If this is not possible, abdominal surgery may be needed to remove the sticky rawhide from the stomach or intestines. If left unchecked, the blockage can be fatal.”
Chocolate coins should also be avoided because, as Ms. Pettitt explained, manufacturers usually use a lot of palm oil for them.
This has created environmental problems in addition to the sugar intake associated with these goodies, given the destruction of the rainforests.
Cooked bones are also at risk of splintering, and Ms. Pettitt said doing so could lead to fatal injuries.
She said there are many healthy alternatives made from natural resources, including yaker, veal hooves, bull pizzle, and chicken feet.
The company is responding to the growing body of evidence showing that a variety of popular pet treats are actually very dangerous or unhealthy.
Ms. Pettitt said, “As a business owner, it is sometimes difficult to explain to customers that a really popular product in pet stores is not on our shelves.
“We believe our role in this industry is not just to sell pet products, but also to provide advice and advice on the products we sell.
“Storing rawhide or cooked bones – which pose a real risk to pets – would be a total contradiction of our commitment to providing thorough advice to pet owners.”
Another Norwich pet dealer who refused to be named said that potentially harmful dog products are still advertised on television.
He said his store had rawhide in stock, but he had turned down many products from suppliers in the past.
A lot of dog treats are made in China and Vietnam, which Ms. Pettitt says may make animal rights ethics a factor to consider.
