First Certified Humane Labeled Dog Food Arrives in U.S. Stores

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Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) says Open Farm will be the first producer of Certified Humane Raised and Handled dry dog food in the U.S.

Open Farm, a Canadian-based pet food company, launched their Certified Humane dog food products in stores across Canada in late 2014. Now the first ethically-sourced dry dog food to receive the Certified Humane label is available in the U.S.

“Since Humane Farm Animal Care launched in 2003, pet owners have been clamoring for pet foods with meat and chicken that were Certified Humane,” said Adele Douglass, executive director of HFAC. “This is our first major pet food company and we’re excited to see such a product finally hit the marketplace. It will give U.S. pet owners the opportunity to purchase pet food that reflects their humane values.”

Under the Certified Humane label, Open Farm will use only meat and poultry products in their pet foods that come from Certified Humane farms and ranches.

The Certified Humane label assures consumers that farm animals are raised on farms where they can express their natural behaviors, such as flapping wings and moving around freely in their environments. The farm animals also must also be raised without antibiotics or growth hormones and must not be fed animal by-products.

Endorsed by 66 humane organizations, the Certified Humane Raised and Handled program is nationally recognized as the gold standard for certifying animal welfare from birth through slaughter. HFAC’s Animal Care Standards were developed by a veritable who’s who of national and international animal scientists and farm-animal welfare experts. Producer compliance with the HFAC standards is verified through annual on-site visits by HFAC’s third-party inspectors.

“As an animal lover and ethical eater, it was very important that Open Farm work only with farmers who respect the animals under their care, raising them in accordance with strict ethical and humane standards,” says Jacqueline Prehogan, president of Open Farm. “The Certified Humane stamp gives pet parents a high level of comfort in knowing where their pet’s food comes from and, for the first time, having the choice to buy humane pet food.”