Why can’t the AKC sell treats made in the USA?
This post is not to bash the American Kennel Club on all fronts; I don’t agree with many of the AKC’s practices but my training business 
Kindred Spirits Dog Training does offer the Canine Good Citizen and Puppy STAR program. Although I don’t compete any more – for various reasons – I have competed in AKC events in the past and earned a wide variety of titles with my dogs.
However, for several years the AKC has offered for sale a line of products with ‘AKC’ and their logo prominently featured. Those products have included toys, leashes and collars, and treats. Some of the treats include rawhides as well as duck and chicken jerky treats. And I have a problem with the treats.
I know very well that the name ‘American Kennel Club’ does not equate to quality. A puppy with AKC registration papers is not necessarily any better than a puppy without said papers. The AKC has even said as much. However the general public often does equate ‘AKC’ with quality.
My friend and partner at Kindred Spirits, Kate Abbott, was in a store recently and saw some AKC brand treats on the shelf. Curious, she turned over the package of treats and saw ‘Made in China.’ She picked up another and another and another. All were made in China.
Complaints of dog getting sick after eating chicken jerky treats made in China have been surfacing since June 2010. In November 2010 the FDA issued a warning concerning these treats and in December the FDA said they were investigating reports of sick dogs.
Now as far as I have been able to find, there are no reports of the AKC’s treats being implicated in these incidences and I’m not saying these treats will or will not make dogs sick. But after all the problems that have come from ingredients and foods from China, beginning with the 2007 pet food recalls, I’m sure I’m not the only one who is avoiding all foods and treats (for people or canines) made in China.
I know I’m dreaming but it would be nice if the AKC, an organization equated with quality in the minds of many dog owners, could sell quality treats made in the USA of safe ingredients. It would be nice.
6 Comments to “Why can’t the AKC sell treats made in the USA?”
Leave a Reply
Sorry! I forgot to put my name on the above post – Liz Palika
Why is “we’re just a registry” slapping its logo on all manner of consumer junk? Why does it try to sell me car insurance every month, and credit cards? What has this to do with keeping the pedigrees of dogs?
I had purchased a bag of chicken jerky from Petco and I had not problems at all with my pooch. Since she liked it so much I ifound some at Big Lots and the Brand name was AKC Chicken Jerky Made in China and sold to the US. My dog had became sick. Throwing up and no energy on the first day. Then on the second day she was trowing up water and would not eat and only wanted me to hold her. Third day fed her rice and bolled chicken thinking that would help. She has thown half of this up also. I really think that selling poison us to feed to our dogs is just evil. I actually paid to poison my dog and an expencive vet bill just because they will not pull it from the selves. Thank God for Facebook that has gotten the word out to not use this product.
I received two bags of AKC dog treats for my dog at Easter. I noticed they were made in China. My dog seemed to like them but after the melamine dog food scare I was reluctant to feed him any more and threw them out. AKC is trusted but they should not have their treats made in China. People cannot trust the quality.
I purchased AKC dog treats that were made in Canada & luckily there seems to be no problem w/them.
I too will not buy the ones made in China…but so, so many of them are.
Why can’t we make these in the US anymore? It can’t be that much cheaper to make them there (& ship them here can it?
I had also purchased AKC chicken jerky treats assuming that the AKC label meant quality. Why else does the AKC exist except to maintain the highest standards in dog breeds? It does not make a dog better, but is for a degree of comfort knowing that your dog has a traceable healty bloodline. I never gave my lab any before I noticed they were made in China. I wrote an email to them. They gave me a number to call. I called the number and got told that they would “pass the info along.” Whatever that means. Since the, no replies.
I guess the consumer is the bottom line with little or no support from the very organizations that we pay subscription fees and purchase products from.