What type of testing does Natura do?
The Natura Pet Products Animal Testing Policy
Natura Pet Products believes strongly in the importance of nutritional testing to validate our products and to support the development of new, innovative and healthful diets. However, we have never been comfortable with the care and treatment of animals at most independent facilities. As a result, we realized that the only way to reconcile both issues was to build our own facility and manage the care and treatment of the test animals ourselves.
The Belfield Pet Food Research & Development Center is a humane, non-invasive testing facility which was built near our manufacturing plant in Nebraska. The Belfield Center sits on 8.5 acres. The building itself is 11,500 square feet under roof and is climate controlled year-round with 3 large HVAC units. There are 19 spacious outdoor pens for long term dog feeding studies, 56 indoor runs with full access to their outdoor runs, and 2 x 3000 square foot dog exercise yards. There is a cat play room and Natura's "Dog of the Week" room, which is a fully decorated home living room which is being utilized by a different canine resident each week. All residents of the Belfield Center have regular play time and frequent interaction with the staff. Toys of all kinds, cat scratching posts and cat furniture is available for all residents. Animals living at the Belfield Center come to us from a variety of sources, including rescue groups, breeders and private homes.
All animals in the facility are cared for humanely and it is important for our customers to know that all living and test spaces far exceed the minimum requirements set by the USDA. It is also important for everyone to know that all work done at the Belfield Center is non-invasive; the dog and cat residents serve us to eat pet food. Period. A practicing local veterinarian has been contracted to provide regular health care to all animals. The facility is managed by Becky Lynn, Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. The animals are cared for by a conscientious staff of 4 full time staff members, including one staff member with veterinary technician experience.
TESTING POLICIES
1. All testing will be non-invasive to the animals and will consist only of palatability, digestibility, stool quality, AAFCO protocol feeding studies or other similarly designed studies for nutritional substantiation.
2. All animals will be cared for as if they were pets in our home, including interaction and socialization.
3. We will always far exceed minimum standards established by the Animal Welfare Act of the US, the US Department of Agriculture.
4. We will not conduct any study requiring or resulting in the euthanasia of cats or dogs.
5. We will ensure the humane treatment of cats and dogs that reside in the facility and provide for animal well-being, socialization and husbandry in a manner compatible with our own philosophy and conscience.
6. We will require that all residents have regular and timely veterinary check-ups. Any animal that shows signs of illness will be provided veterinary care immediately.
7. Resident animals will be adopted-out to private homes following their retirement from the Belfield Center. The adoption process will begin while the animals are still well within their productive and active years.
8. Natura will continue to keep an interest in our "retired" residents, and will support their feeding and health care for a period of time after adoption. Natura employees, dealers and customers will be given first priority to adopt these animals.
9. The Belfield Center will have an advisory panel made up of pet care professionals, community representatives, and veterinary practitioners for the purpose of routine facility tours and oversight. Dr Wendell O. Belfield will serve on the Animal Care & Use Committee which will meet at least semi-annually.
10. Extra care will be taken with all new animals upon their arrival at the Belfield Center to minimize the stress of their relocation and to encourage quick socialization with the other animals and Natura staff. Each animal at the Belfield Center will have a name, not a number.
source:
http://www.naturapet.com/tools/faqs.asp?view=all
