Dog’s tragic death leads woman down entrepreneurial path

Becca Gladden
Contributing Writer

North Phoenix resident Barb Fannon believes her dog died from tainted pet food that was part of the long list of national pet products recalled earlier this year. What happened next led her down the path of becoming an owner of a booming business.

NORTH PHOENIX – Losing a family pet is often a time of great sorrow. But when North Valley resident Barb Fannon's dog passed away, she channeled her grief into an opportunity to improve the lives of other valley animal lovers and their pets.

Fannon began investigating the ingredients in commercial pet foods several months ago when one of her dogs died unexpectedly and another experienced serious kidney problems. Both dogs had eaten a brand of canned dog food that later appeared on a long list of recalled pet products.

Earlier this year, millions of pet food items were pulled from store shelves when it was discovered that they contained contaminated wheat or rice ingredients imported from China. Thousands of pets became ill or died and Fannon believes her dogs were among the first victims.

While Fannon's research produced some disturbing findings, it also inspired her to launch HealthyDogExpress.com, a dog food delivery service that offers owners an alternative to the typical store-bought brands.

"Many people just aren't aware of what's actually in their dog food or they would not be feeding their pets cheap food," Fannon states.

Fannon discovered that commercial pet foods may contain chicken beaks, feet, feathers, and heads; animal guts, cow udders, heads and hooves; chemical preservatives; artificial colors and flavors; corn syrup and other sugars; indigestible fats; and corn, wheat, and soy, all possible allergens.

HealthyDogExpress.com offers several varieties of all-natural, human-grade dog food and treats
which are not part of any pet food recall. The company recently added healthy cat food and natural bath and grooming products to its product line as well.

One of Fannon's most popular items is her Healthy Dog Express Bones – hand-made treats created in her kitchen using fresh goat's milk from her own dairy goats. The treats, which sell for $6.95 a pound, also contain liver, rye flour, whole wheat flour, fresh blueberries, carrots, eggs, flaxseed, and garlic powder.

Barb believes many pet owners who switch to natural pet foods will see improvement in their animal's energy level, coat condition, stool size (smaller), and overall health within six to eight weeks of feeding an all-natural diet. Dogs suffering from allergies, ear infections, irritable bowel syndrome, itching, and hot spots may also find their conditions improving with a healthy diet.

"If you have been back and forth to the vet with no changes to the common problems described above, try feeding healthy and see if that helps," Fannon suggests.

A brief glance at the ingredients in some of the company's offerings reveals a list of unusual, even exotic items not typically found in store-bought pet foods and treats: Bison, fresh elk, trout, pheasant, sweet potatoes, cranberries, figs, watercress, applesauce, celery, spinach, and many more.

Fannon estimates the cost of feeding a medium-sized dog with her products to be approximately $45-50 per month, but notes that dogs require less food overall when fed items with a higher nutrient content.

Beyond fears of contamination and recalls, Barb notes that feeding your pets a steady diet of inexpensive commercial food is akin to feeding your kids fast food at every meal.

"Dogs like cheap food just as people like fast food. That doesn't mean it's good for them," Fannon says. "Once you start feeding your dogs healthy, you will notice a big difference."

HealthyDogExpress.com delivers valley-wide seven days a week. Orders and delivery times can be set on the Web site or by phone at (623) 293-1380. Delivery is free for orders over $15.