I was not planning to buy or adopt a dog on a stormy day in 1996 in rural Mississippi. I was volunteering at an equestrian center when a pack of three strays appeared. One looked quite a bit like Benji, but had a great fear of people (and thunder of which he barked madly at). I quickly named him "Thor".

Television offers us one view of how to care for our dogs, especially the many "high quality" dog foods now available on the market. But how high quality are they? More and more research is revealing that even the highest quality dog food (and cat food) does not come close to what the b.a.r.f diet can do for dogs and cats.

Not being a vet, I cannot give you medical advice for your dog or cat. I can only share my own experience with Thor, switching him to this miracle b.a.r.f. diet and putting him on herbal tinctures. His energy level and peace of mind evolved to such a point that people were actually telling me they felt a "spiritual connection with this creature". He was walking with me 5 miles a day up until age 17. He had nearly been dead five years earlier. This diet is a force with which to be reckoned.

My anger remains at the pet food industry. There is no way they cannot know they are selling a dangerous product, but a profitable one. I guess it is something I will have to live with, just like alcohol or tobacco both being available but so poisonous. But we are analytical humans and know it. A pet has to rely on us, and we have to rely on the vet who is relying on the pet food salesperson. It's a viscious cycle and until someone blows the whistle, it is likely to remain that way a long time.

Vets are worried that dogs will choke on chicken and pork bones. They will not. Raw bones are flexible. They are easily digested even by puppies and elderly dogs. Kibble is the big danger. More dogs choke on kibble daily than all other dog diets combined. But you never hear that in the news.

A simple food processor costs about $30. It works wonders. Within seconds, one can make a different meal daily. Thor loved hamburger and broccoli with a bit of carrots and crushed rosemary. But that was Thor. He had his own tastes. A great thing to do is test different diets for your own dog.

Let's face it. Seventy years ago, there was no such thing as "dog food". People fed their pets what was left from the table, raw foods from the gardens, etc. The catastrophic diseases we see today, began at the same time processed dog food was introduced to the market.

A few months ago I was flying to Charlotte, N.C on business and to see friends. I was talking to a young woman before takeoff, sitting next to me who had two yellow labs. They were both constantly sick. I told her about the b.a.r.f diet and how most vets don't know about it, because they are educated by the dog food industry salespersons.

Before I could finish my sentence, a woman sitting in front of us turned around and said, "Excuse me, I'm a veteran vet in Charlotte and I am sorry to eavesdrop (it was too late), but I know all about the b.a.r.f. diet and recommend it to all my clients. I am very much against feeding dogs and cats what is being sold in stores and many clinics

At first I couldn't believe what I was hearing. But she name dropped many of the famous b.a.r.f. diet doctors and quoted from their books and I knew she was telling the truth. I asked her how she made a living and she said, "On quantity from word of mouth, not return customers, generally."

Update: Since I wrote this article several months ago, my beloved dog Thor died peacefully in his sleep at age 21. While on the b.a.r.f diet, he never had one vet bill until 3 months ago. I will miss him greatly. He died at home on the floor, on pain meds (the heart meds had affected his liver) but with his trademark smile on his face. He loved people and loved life....thanks to the b.a.r.f. diet.