Boycott: Iams/Eukanuba & ALL Procter & Gamble Produc

[branwen]

I just wanted to let you know that there is currently a boycott proposed of Iams/Eukanuba products made by Procter & Gamble.  The investigation showed that numerous dog and cats were used in testing products, and that their living conditions were terrible.  Many animals are wasted, killing them rather than treating injuries.  This from a company that claims to care about your pets!

There is some question about the investigation itself since Peta did it.  They do have a reputation for sensationalizing things.  However, I've found at least two other (more legitimate) organizations, both in the US and in Europe, making the same claim.  Complaints range from neglect to thoughtless disposal of dogs and cats for purposes that are still unclear.

Use your own judgement, but I read and saw enough to keep me from buying anything made by Procter & Gamble.

Here's one of the links, but there are many.  
http://www.uncaged.co.uk/iamsexpress.htm

And a video if you have a strong stomach.
http://iamscruelty.com/iams-video.html

[Anonymous]

After looking at the pictures of those poor animals i felt physically ill and the reading was just as bad. I cant believe people would do such cruel things and condone it. Some of my dogs were rescued from bad homes but this is much worse. I can't understand how people can do this kind of thing and think they can get away with it!

[Anonymous]

I can't understand how people can do this kind of thing and think they can get away with it!

One word answer:  MONEY.

I'm in one of those cynical moods!  Yes, large (and sometimes small) companies are happy to abuse animals in the pursuit of profits.  Plenty of them are also happy to abuse people.

Thanks for the links, Branwen.  It helps to know who/what to boycott.  The trouble is that there are so many parents/subsidiaries that you think you are boycotting but sometimes end up funding them via another brand.  If we really want to hit 'em where it hurts it helps to know who the parent is and who the subsidiaries are.  

http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/food_supermarkets/procter_gamble/procter_gamble2.html  

gives a guide to some of their brands.  They've been subject to boycotts before because of their cosmetics testing, but most people wouldn't think of stuff like Pringles.


Wassail

Frog - who didn't think she could stomach the vids.

[branwen]

Thanks for the link, Frog.  I was planning on researching all products made by Proctor & Gamble, but that saves a lot of time.  Sending letters to Proctor & Gamble might help a little too.  It's a small gesture but if enough people do it, the effort is worthwhile.

Now looking for alternates to Tide, Crest, Bounty, and a few other things.  I never give my kitties Iams anyway, but I'd better check with Rain to see what he feeds his dog.

Yes, money is the bottom line for most companies - that's why boycotts work!  Get the word out.

[Anonymous]

*Crying* *Shaking Head*   :cry:  I am so disgusted.....I am speechless. I knew stuff like that happens, but to see it..... I did watch the video...I will pass this along to everyone I know, thank you Branwen...

[Anonymous]

To be quite frank it is blair who is the problem he knows it is going on but he is doing jack about it.

the same with chickens and other animals.  news papers are protesting and blair is blanking.

Why do they do it.  :cry: I have many animals myself and i wouldnt dream of doing thing like that. I am disgusted :cry:  

[Anonymous]

Here are a few alternatives to the Procter and Gamble products...Seventh Generation cleaning and household products (you can find them on the web), Ecover products are great, although my favorite laundry detergent is Bio-kleen.  None of these is tested on animals, and all are bio-degradable.  In fact, in the summer I run a hose from my laundry to a barrel, let it sit for a couple of days and then water my plants with it!

Are they more expensive?  No.  Do they clean as well? Yes.  they just don't have those little silica bits in that are called "optical brightners", and so sorry, your clothes will smell like clean clothes and not perfume.

My husband has been ill for 15 plus years from working in and around boatyards, and is so chemically sensitive that the neighbor's 'bounce' in their dryer makes him react as if he has just had a stroke.  I am REALLY GOOD at alternatives.

Just watch some of the so-called natural products.  Some of them are still full of nasty petrochemicals, many of which are supplied by P&G.  

These products not only poison animals and the earth, they poison all of us.

I'm not opinionated now, am I?  

[branwen]

I've used Bio-kleen before and it works just fine.  I was just joking about looking for alternatives; I already use a lot of them.  The main thing I'll do now is look at the fine print on packaging for Procter and Gamble.  The company has so many subsidiaries that it would be easy to miss some.

[branwen]

Amythist, Blair is hardly responsible for the sale of Procter & Gamble products in England.  We do have a free trade agreement with the UK.  Also, the only talk I've seen about Blair and animal activists has concerned his support of legitimate medical research.  The rest is in internet rags like The Anarchist and Infoshop News, not the best place to get a clear view of things from all sides.

[Anonymous]

Hi Kim, and welcome!!

About the Seventh Generation products...are there any cheaper alternatives? There is a store about 20 miles away that carries their products, but they are sooooo expensive, I mean, $5.00 for a four pack of toilet paper, yeowch!!! That and the cleaners are double if not triple what regular cleaners are. I'm all about helping the animals and the environment, don't get me wrong, but it's just so not affordable for me. I think maybe if they wanted to make it so more people would help the Earth they would make it more affordable! hmm... If you happen to know any other more affordable products like that would you give me the names? I live on a very limited budget. Thanks!! And welcome again!!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your welcome.  I've been feeling rather shy.

I'll look at some alternatives for you.  I know I don't pay that much at my local Co-op.  As far as toilet paper and that sort of stuff, there are sometimes recycled products in the regular local grocery store.  

The cleaning products sometimes seem more expensive, but after you start using them you might find that you use so much less that they become more affordable.  I've found that especially with the laundry detergent.  Some of the other products I can't tell since my children tend to use LOTS of soap in the dishwater and if it's not REALLY foamy they use more!

White vinegar works well for almost anything, and CitrusSolve (not sure of the spelling, but it's citrus oil) works on the tough stuff.  It's expensive, but very concentrated...I first heard about when I lived in LA, it's what commercial restaurant cleaners use.  Just be careful, it melts some plastics.

I am admittedly, very paranoid about this stuff and go overboard because of my husband's allergies/sensitivities.  I even have to be careful about what flea stuff I use on my cat!

[Anonymous]

I don't mean to offend anyone but I need to rant because this subject is too close to my heart.  Unfortunately P & G are not the only ones who do this.  Here in the USA the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) publishes a booklet each year that lists the companies who test on animals, or have subsidiaries who do, etc.....   For the vegans out there, it also lists which products have/have no animal products in them.   Anyone who is interested in knowing about whether animals were used to test their soaps, lotions, personal items, etc. can contact NAVS and for a small donation get a copy of the book, it's updated each year.  

I often use products like 7th generation etc, but they are expensive and some months I simply cannot afford them.  I sometimes use vinegar or lemon juice and other "food" items with great results for cleaning (and oh, that lovely italian dressing scent that it leaves...   .  But there are ready made alternatives --- Dial corporation, for example, does not do animal testing nor fund another company to do it for them (when last I looked, anyway).  I am proud to say that I once sent back a free sample of a feminine item that P & G sent to me stating that I did not support their company's policy on animal testing.  They actually responded, saying that little by little they are making improvements.  (this was, by the way, about 8 years ago - so see how "hard" they are trying to make improvements?)  I think that Frog hit it on the nose --- it comes down to MONEY.  To these companies, animals are nearly free --- why spend money on software and computers etc when they have an endless supply of "free" research subjects!?  And don't even get me started that some of the research animals are gotten from pounds.  Even more reason that people need to spay & neuter their pets to decrease the surpluss population of homess and unwanted animals!

Like everything else, you really have to research to know.  Caveat Emptor.  And the those of you like me, with too much sensibility, it can be very hard on your heart.  

One last thought --- if anyone happens to want to research alternatives to the animal research itself - PCRM among others has a good overview on their site (www.pcrm.org).

Thanks for posting this Branwen!

Bright Blessings,
Teleri  

[Anonymous]

I watched the video.........even without sound, it was wholly depressing.......one of those dogs looked like Red.... :x It reminds me of one of the summers I spent with my Dad and stepmother.  One day, a beautiful Collie b**** literally followed me home from a walk down the road.  She didn't have tags, so we kept her at our house.  She had been badly hurt (probably hit by a car), and her hip was fractured.  We took her to the vet's and had it fixed.  She was very shy, but gradually came out of her shell and was a sweetie.  We named her Mindy.  Then, after she had lived with us for about a month, we recieved a visit from some people down the road.  It seems that they had seen me walking her, and recognized her.........as one of the brood b****es they kept in their fenced kennel.  They demanded that we return her, and said they would sue if we didn't.  We handed her over; we had to.  About three days later, she ran away and appeared on our doorstep.  Yet again, the guy came over and required that we bring her back.  When we brought her to his house/kennel, she refused to get out of the truck.  My stepmother and I (the truck only had room for three, so Dad didn't come with us) had to physically haul her out, and the only reason we did so was because the man and his wife were standing in front of the truck watching our every move.  Both my stepmom and I cried for hours afterwards.  About a year later, I learned that the owners had resumed their habit of forcing her to have dozens of pups at a time, and had consequently bred her to death.

[Anonymous]

after veiwing that awful video. And for them to say that the animals are treated with the utmost care and respect, galls me!  I'm going to include this link for you to read to so I won't misquote them. But its such outright lies!!! But maybe they think care and respect are terms of perception? The only thing I could think of while reading this page was.... those poor animals on that video and that dratted director saying the animals forgot the pain of the testing.  


Ok here is the link... if I do this correctly that is. http://www.pg.com/about_pg/science_tech/animal_alternatives/care_treatment.jhtml;jsessionid=THHVXHCGG3JVLQFIAJ1SZOWAVABHMLHC

Uh, I did preview post, and that link sure was long, sorry! I don't know how to make it short. Oh wait... I will put this one up and you can scroll down on the page and get to the above page from there.
http://www.pg.com/animalalternatives/

I went the their site to get a list of products they make, so that I WON'T but anything else they make. Dang if I am gonna support them. But I'll give up crest and pringles, and even my secret. I can't be a part of what is being done to those animals.

Tigress

[branwen]

The alternative products are great, but as said, sometimes expensive.  However, a number of commercial companies have stopped animal testing as well.  You just have to do a little research.

For example, I look for detergents and soaps that have no dyes, perfumes or other additives.  Of course, there's the pure glycerine soap at Magickware too, (shameless plug :embar).  Then, I  check the internet for references to the company and animals.  If they're doing anything, it's being reported somewhere.

As for P & G, I don't think all their products are listed on their site, but if you read labels, you'll find them.  In fact, read all labels.  You'll be surprised at what you may find.  As consumers in a consumer driven society, it's up to us to know what we're buying and how it's made.

Purina is also on my boycott list.  I was in the store to pick up some cat box liners and saw a box made by Tidy Cat (a subsidiary of Purina).  The liners sounded interesting since they were several layers that allowed the clean litter to sift through so you could remove the clumps.  Fine.  Great idea.  Then I read "For declawed cats."  What?  Purina, which advertises how much they care about your pets, is making a product for declawed cats.  That's outrageous.  As if people didn't already mutilate their cats enough, now a major pet product corporation is saying it's just fine by making a product just for those pets.

Always read labels.  All of them.