Petco removes dog and cat treats made in China from website and shelves

Petco has removed cat and dog treats made in China from its website and store shelves

US pet supplies retailer Petco has started off the new year by following through on its promise to remove all dog and cats treats made in China from its store shelves and website. The company confirmed the products’ removal from in an announcement made on Monday, January 5, 2015.

Many pet owners have become wary of treats made in China in recent years, due to concerns that treats imported from that nation have sickened large numbers of pets and are suspected of having killed more than 1,000 dogs in the US alone. Jerky treats from China have been of particular concern to dog owners.

Fellow pet products retailer and business rival PetSmart announced on Monday that it will pull Chinese made treats from its stores by March. The two major chains announced in May of 2014 that they would stop selling treats from China by 2015 and are now following through on those plans.

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Petco stated in a news release on Monday, January 5, 2015:

Petco today announced it has completely removed all China-made dog and cat treats from shelves at more than 1,300 retail stores nationwide, including Unleashed by Petco stores and online at Petco.com. The move makes Petco the first national pet specialty retailer to complete this transition and affirms the company’s commitment to listening to customers and putting the health and safety of pets first.

“As a trusted partner for pet parents, we believe this is the right thing to do, and we’re proud to take this step in the best interest of pets,” said Jim Myers, Petco CEO. “What we feed our pets matters, and this milestone supports the company’s steadfast commitment to putting our customers, partners, animals and the communities we serve first.”

For nearly 50 years, Petco has been a trusted source for high quality premium pet products and services in local neighborhoods across the U.S. Petco handpicks the best brands to help pets thrive with a broad range of food and treat options that support complete pet health. Petco has not carried any dog or cat food items from China for several years. The decision to discontinue the sale of China-made treats allows Petco to expand the assortment of safe and healthy alternatives that are made in the U.S. or in other regions around the globe that support complete pet health.

The safety and health benefits of food and treats continue to be top concerns for pet owners. According to a recent survey, “Natural, Organic and Eco-Friendly Pet Products in the U.S.” by Packaged Facts, 55 percent of dog owners and 48 percent of cat owners agree that fear of pet food contamination and product safety is a key consideration for the pet foods they buy. The survey also found that 61 percent of dog owners and 50 percent of cat owners seek out food made in the U.S. “Customer response to our expanded assortment of treats has been great,” continued Myers. “And we are equally pleased at just how responsive our vendor partners have been in helping us source an entirely new line-up of high-quality, predominantly U.S.-made treat and chew alternatives.”

Petco carries a wide variety of specially-formulated foods for cats, dogs and other pets and is devoted to helping pet parents choose the right nutrition for their pet, both in-store and online. Pet parents looking for alternatives to China-made dog or cat treats will find a broad and completely refreshed selection of U.S.-made products at Petco from brands like American Jerky, Blue Buffalo, Blue Ridge Naturals, Canidae, Colorado Naturals, Dogswell, Good Lovin’, Isle of Dogs, Merrick, Natural Balance, Nature’s Variety, Prairie Dog, Zuke’s and more. Petco also carries a number of safe and long lasting treats and chews from other regions of the world, including New Zealand, Australia and South America.