Ohio lawmakers have started considering a bill to set higher standards for what goes into pet food. The legislation comes after an investigation months ago which discovered a drug typically used to euthanize animals was found in pet food. (WSYX/WTTE)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) -- Ohio lawmakers have started considering a bill to set higher standards for what goes into pet food. The legislation comes after an investigation months ago which discovered a drug typically used to euthanize animals was found in pet food. The bill would ban that drug from all pet food.
Supporters of the bill said it’s hard to say how widespread the problem was of finding pentobarbital in dog or cat food.
“A lot of people go towards the cheapest,” said dog owner Macy Chapman. “I’ve heard from my parents and my sister and a lot of other dog owners that that’s just the worst thing you can do.”
Chapman said she spends extra for a higher-quality food for her dog Khal. She said it was worth it.
“You see the commercials of like, good food, bad food,” she said. “You’re aware that there’s bad food out there. I’d rather pay more on dog food than health bills later because those are probably going to be more expensive. So, it’s worth it.”
State Representative Laura Lanese, (R – Grove City), has investigated how much pentobarbital ends up in pet food. She said there’s enough of it out there that it’s killed some pets.
“People started to realize, ‘well are those dogs and cats going into the dog and cat food’?” Lanese said. “What exactly is going into our dog food?”
Lanese sponsored a bill to ban pentobarbital from pet food.
“There had been allegations and beliefs that this had been going on for a while,” she said. “Now there’s conclusive proof.”
Veterinarians tell ABC 6/FOX 28 they recommend sticking with name-brand dog foods. They said people get what they pay for with cheap food.
“I was pretty worried,” said Alex Schoonober, who recently rescued a huskie, Cooper. “I’ve seen all these documentaries about how people have fed their dogs normal treats you just get at any pet store and then the next day their dog is dead.”
Lanese said she hoped the bill might pass before the end of the year, but cautioned state lawmakers have other legislation they need to work on before the session ends this winter.
The bill doesn’t include funding for inspectors to monitor pet food as it’s being made. Lanese said the only way a company breaking the rules would get caught is if someone has their pet’s food tested for themselves.
