Iams Continues Support of Anti-Hunters

[ICMCumin]

Iams Continues Support of Anti-Hunters

(Columbus) - Despite a flood of contacts from sportsmen across the nation, a major pet food producer is still refusing to end its relationship with the nation’s largest anti-hunting group. Sportsmen are now being urged to voice their complaints with the parent company and local suppliers.

In January, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance alerted outdoorsmen that the Iams Company, maker of Iams and Eukanuba pet foods, joined forces with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), as Grand National Sponsor of the Pet Fest America tour. The tour is a series of animal shows, developed by HSUS, which are being presented in major metropolitan areas, nationwide. They debuted in early 2003 and will continue through April 2004.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest and most vociferous anti-hunting organization.

Thus far, Iams has continued to recite the excuse that it was not aware of legislative issues with the sporting dog community. However, it has shown no intention of ending its relationship with the anti-hunters.

In an effort to make Iams understand the error of backing anti-hunting groups, sportsmen are urged to contact Iams’ parent company, Procter & Gamble, to voice displeasure over the relationship.

Sportsmen are also urged to contact Iams retail dealers.

Some of the nation’s major consumer product and service firms, including General Mills, Accor Economy Lodging, Sears and Ace Hardware have ended relationships with HSUS after thousands of sportsmen levied strong protest.

Take Action! Sportsmen should contact Procter & Gamble and educate the company about HSUS’s goals to end hunting, fishing, trapping and other forms of animal use. Sportsmen should explain their frustration that its pet food company is promoting a program of the nation’s largest anti-hunting organization. Contact President Alan G. Lafley, The Procter & Gamble Company, 1 Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH, 45202. Phone [phone]. Fax [phone].

Sportsmen are also urged to contact retailers that sell Iams products. Inform them that you oppose Iams’ promotion of the nation’s largest animal rights organization. Following is a list of some national chains that carry the Iams and Eukanuba brand of pet foods:

Kroger Companies, Don W. McGeorge, President, 1014 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-1100

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Companies Include: Kroger, Fry’s, Smith’s, Ralph’s, Dillions, City Market, Hilander, Baker’s, JayC Food Stores, Kessel, Owen’s

Safeway Inc., Steven A Burd, President, 5918 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Pleasanton, CA 94588-3492

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Companies Include: Safeway, Vons, Pavilions

Kmart, Julian C. Day, President, 3100 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48084-3163

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Lee Scott Jr., President, 702 S.W. 8th St., Bentonville, AR 72716

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Target Corp., Robert J. Ulrich, CEO, 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

PetsMart Inc., Robert F. Moran, President, 19601 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Petco Animal Supplies Inc., Brian K Devine, President, 9125 Rehco Rd., San Diego, CA 92121

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Peapod.com, Marc C. van Gelder, President, 9933 Woods Dr., Ste. 375, Skokie, IL 60077

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Petfood Express, Michael Levy, President, 2131 Williams St., San Leandro, CA 94577

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

PetFoodDirect.com, Geoffrey C. Walker, CEO, 203 Progress Dr., Montgomeryville, PA 18936

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers nationally in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call [phone] or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.