Dog toys. How do you have in your house? I have tons scattered throughout the house. When I go shopping I’m always on the search for cool toys. I have most of the toy collection featuring the United Canine. Well, someone has to test them and my dogs are willing participants. Last night my local news station featured a segment on a website non-profit that discloses the results of tests of products for pets to dangerous chemicals like lead, arsenic and chlorine.
Canine Kingdom
As CEO Mary Beth Close said over and over – the pet industry is huge and unattended. I should know better, but I made dog toys at home questionable. I’m sure most of us are guilty of buying cheap imported toys for dogs – the ones in supermarkets, mass merchandisers and pet discount and dollar stores.
Time to rethink my buying habits. Maybe I was putting the health of my dogs in danger. Good to know there are groups that the products around to supervise, conduct laboratory tests and publish their results. And good to know that the United Canine searches, evaluates and selects its product selection based on safety, efficacy and quality. For example, you will not find leather or bone chips, Greenies, small squeaky toys, tennis balls, or electronic equipment shock in store Canine Kingdom, that these products have proved dangerous, less effective or harmful to dogs. And Bravo to this website for registration HealthyStuff.org dangerous animal products.
HealthyStuff.org tested over 400 pet products, including beds, chew toys, stuffed toys, collars, leashes, and tennis balls. Since there are no government standards for hazardous chemicals in products for pets, it is not surprising that there are alarming levels of toxic chemicals that are found – even in the familiar Brand names such as Coleman. HealthyStuff.org results are of particular concern for animals and children. Pets and children are often close to ground and often put products into their mouths. Exposures are higher, resulting in better health concerns.
The U.S. government does not require a full analysis of chemicals before they are added to most consumer products. And once they are on the market, the government almost never restricted their use, even in the face of new scientific evidence suggesting a health threat. Because children, adults and animals can be exposed to chemicals from many sources, and because the effects of certain chemicals is cumulative, it is important to look at the picture on chemicals and health. The law is supposed to, the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, is outdated, according to the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). In 2005, the GAO found:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has limited data on existing chemicals, including information on toxicity and exposure
- EPA lacks data to ensure that health and potential environmental risks of new chemicals are identified
- chemical companies are not required to prepare and submit information to EPA toxicity, unless EPA issues a rule
- EPA used its authority to require testing for fewer than 200 of the 62,000 chemicals in commerce since 1979
- for “new” chemicals, the EPA estimates that only 15 percent are test data of the health or safety, and
- For existing chemicals, only 5 of 62,000 chemical groups have been restricted by EPA in 29 years.
It to you. Protect your family. Buy only by reputation, reliable sources and manufacturers. For more information and products you can trust, visit http://www.caninekingdom.com
Mary Beth Close founded For the Love of Dogs, Inc., the holding company for Canine Kingdom in 1999. Her vision is to end the unnecessary and unintentional abuse pet dogs suffer because we do not understand them. Canine Kingdom researches, organizes, develops, and validates information, methods and products regarding dog communication, training, and care needs. Canine Kingdom is an independent corporation and is not affiliated with any other pet related company, professional, or organization.



