What can you do that will matter?
Copy, Print & Distribute the Following Letter
to EVERYONE You Know Feeds Raw and Ask Them
to Voice Their Objection to the
King County Board of Health by
December 10, 2009
IMPORTANT!!! HELP US FIGHT THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS IN KING COUNTY, WA. THAT COULD EFFECT RAW DIET FEEDERS EVERYWHERE.
Dear Raw Diet Feeder -
I wanted to make you aware of proposed new regulations in King County, WA (Seattle-area) that could, one day, affect your ability to feed raw diets to your animals.
The Seattle and King County Boards of Health are updating their regulations and permit requirements for pet-related businesses such as groomers, pet stores, kennels, shelters, and daycare facilities. They have defined "Risk" categories for pet stores that sell live animals. But they have also included pet stores that sell raw pet food in those "risk" categories. And they have created a separate, but matching, permit classification for any other type of business (veterinary hospital, grocery store, training facility, raw diet manufacturers who sell direct to the public, etc.) that sells raw diets.
Any business falling into the above categories will be subject to yearly inspections and a yearly permit fee. In addition, any new construction, or even a remodel of an existing building, for a business that sells raw diets will require that architectural plans be submitted to the Board of Health and hourly fees will be charged to the business in order for the Board to review them. If the Board requires changes, the revised plans will have to be submitted again for review and the hourly fees will again be charged.
It is important to note that these burdensome fees, inspections and construction requirements are being applied *only* to businesses that sell raw pet food. If a business does not sell live animals and doesn't sell raw diets (though they sell other types of pet food), they are exempt from all these regulations.
By singling out raw diets, the County government is implying danger that is not proven and creating burdens not reasonably related to the problems they are trying to prevent. Kibble and canned pet foods have extensive, documented histories of pathogen contamination. By not including these types of foods within their regulations, the County is creating an uneven commercial playing field and placing an undue competitive burden on the sellers of raw pet foods. Please be aware that technically, sellers of freeze-dried raw pet food and treats, if the products were raw at the time of manufacture, can be considered subject to these regulations. Even meat wholesalers - if they know they are selling to persons or groups using the goods for pet food - would be subject to all these regulations.
We recognize the right and duty of the County to protect the health and safety of its citizens. Requiring safe handling instructions on all raw pet food labels would be a reasonable way to address their concerns. The regulations they are currently requiring are not reasonable at all.
The point of these regulations seems to be aimed at discouraging the feeding of raw pet food. In fact, we have already heard from some raw diet retailers, including a veterinarian, who have indicated that they will stop selling raw diets if these regulations are adopted. That means that consumers will end up with fewer choices in where to buy raw diets, and that could affect your ability to continue feeding raw diets.
Perhaps more important, if these regulations are enacted, it also sets the stage for even more restrictive regulations for raw diets in King County and could become a model for elsewhere in the nation. This could be the first step on a slippery slope to prohibit the feeding of raw diets.
I strongly encourage residents of WA and raw diet feeders everywhere to submit your concerns about these regulations to the Board. If they do not hear vigorous opposition to their unfair requirements for unproven concerns, the sellers of raw diets in King County will be singled out with financial and bureaucratic burdens, and your raw diet choices could become limited. Make your voice heard. Don't allow King County to unfairly begin to legislate how you choose to feed your animals.
You can see the latest summary update (9/15/09) of the proposed regulations on the above page. Look at the top of the listing entitled "Download PDFs".
