Does Organic Matter to You? Survey Results Are In! #OrganicPet

We like our outdoors and our food free from chemicals

This post is sponsored by Castor & Pollux and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about ORGANIX, but To Dog With Love only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Castor & Pollux Pet Works is not responsible for the content of this article.

How much does organic matter to you and your family?

You may have filled out a recent survey we shared from Castor & Pollux, asking for your opinions on organic and today the results are in!

Take a look at the nifty inforgraphic below to find out what pet parents think about organic for both their human and fur kids!

We think this is some interesting stuff, especially since I've been conscious of both eating organic myself and feeding it to Rocco. However, like most of you, we don't eat organic 100 percent of time.

Still, like more than half of you, we think it's important to choose organic as much as we can. We see the benefit of reducing our exposure to pesticides, and so that means I choose organic when shopping for many of my fruits and veggies and for some of Rocco's dog food and treats, too.

We found this recent study that says that by eating just 80 percent organic you can reduce your pesticide exposure by up to 96 percent.

When you're looking for organic, you can look for the USDA Organic logo as well as the Oregon Tilth logo. Both are types of organic certifications and both are used for Castor & Pollux Organix foods.


What kind of ingredients do you look for in your pet's food?

In the Organix dry food for dogs, organic free-range chicken is the No. 1 ingredient. The folks at Castor & Pollux build on that foundation by adding organic brown rice and fresh organic fruit and vegetable purees that provide natural sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.

In addition to any kind of meat, I know that Rocco also loves veggie and fruit purees, because I have a hard time keeping his face out of my healthy smoothies!

Want to know more about organic dog food? There's lots of great information in this Organix FAQ.

If you want to try Castor & Pollux food and treats, you can find them at Petsmart, Petco, Whole Foods Market and pet specialty retailers nationwide. 

Rocco after thoroughly enjoying Organix canned food!

Stay tuned for another Castor & Pollux post later this month where we'll tell you more about the Organix line of dry food, canned food and treats for dogs! Yum! 

Organic Myths and Facts: How Much Do You Know? #OrganicPet

This post is sponsored by Castor & Pollux Natural Petworks and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Organix Pet Food, but To Dog With Love only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Castor & Pollux Natural Petworks is not responsible for the content of this article.

Staying active and healthy is important to Rocco and me so we can
have fun competing at agility trials!

It's important to me to choose healthy foods, and that goes for both me and Rocco. We both like to be active and play, and the better we eat the better we feel!

I actually LIKE fresh fruits and vegetables, and as it turns out, so does Rocco. He gobbles up green beans (he likes them frozen!), apples, broccoli and old favorites like carrots and sweet potatoes.

We both like all sorts of proteins too, so I want to make sure what we eat is the best quality we can find.

I also like the idea of making sure that what we eat comes from safe sources -- free of chemicals or anything artificial wherever possible.    

And so, I've explored the options in organic foods and treats -- for both me AND Rocco. 

Exploring Organic: The Myths and Facts

There's a lot of information out there regarding organic… in fact, so much information it can make your head spin. 

You can read A LOT about organic from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), the organization that administers USDA organic regulations and describes the specific standards required for organic agricultural products.

In a nutshell, organic operations must show that they protect natural resources, conserve biodiversity, and only use approved substances. For example, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

So what does all this mean to you?

Take this survey and find out!

First, Castor & Pollux, makers of ORGANIX - the most complete line of certified organic natural food for pets made under the USDA’s National Organic Program - has created this survey to find out what folks think and know about organic pet food.

In the next few weeks, the survey results will be created into an infographic and shared right here and across social media so you can see what everyone else thinks about organic too.

Take the survey now to get your opinions included!

Helping you sort through some of the myths and facts

Next, to help sort through some of the information, here are a few myths vs. facts that were presented at a recent #OrganicFestival social media event.

#Organic Myth: There's no evidence organic is better for you. #OrganicFestival pic.twitter.com/yPbjL7Bseg

— Organic Trade (@OrganicTrade) September 15, 2014 

Choosing organic can also make a difference in your exposure levels to pesticides.
One recent study showed that eating just 80 percent organic can reduce your pesticide exposure by up to 96 percent.

#Organic Myth: Eating organic doesn't protect you from pesticide exposure. #OrganicFestival pic.twitter.com/wIEGkCmVXR

— Organic Trade (@OrganicTrade) September 15, 2014

#Organic Myth: You can't prove organic farming is better for the planet. #OrganicFestival pic.twitter.com/BAghRKvJQ8

— Organic Trade (@OrganicTrade) September 15, 2014

So how do you know if your food is organic? If you see the USDA organic seal, that verifies that the product has 95 percent or more certified organic content.  If the label claims it was made with specific organic ingredients, that means those specific ingredients are also certified organic.

Oregon Tilth is one of the USDA NOP accredited certifiers. If you see the Oregon Tilth logo on a products, it is also certified to the standards of the USDA.

Both of these certifications are used for Castor & Pollux pet foods, which assures these foods with organic ingredients contain no chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, artificial preservatives, growth hormones or antibiotics.

Rocco says ORGANIX foods are tasty too!

ORGANIX is the most complete line of certified organic natural food for pets made under the USDA’s National Organic Program. The food features certified organic, free-range chicken or turkey as the No.1 ingredient for excellent taste and digestibility; organic fruits, vegetables and grains for vitamins, minerals and antioxidants; plus, soluble fiber to help maintain a healthy intestinal tract. 

Castor & Pollux foods for pets are available at Petsmart, Petco, Whole Foods Market and pet specialty retailers nationwide. Use this store locator to find Castor & Pollux near you.

We'll be bringing you more information about organic and Castor & Pollux in the next few weeks. And in the meantime, don't forget to take the #OrganicPet survey!

Do either you or your pet eat organic? Tell us about it in the comments below.

After the Party: #OrganicPet Winners

Rocco is loving his Castor & Pollux food, treats and healthy food toppers

We had a terrific time at the #OrganicPet Twitter party last night,  and hope you did too!

The tweets were flying so fast I had to go back and read some of the great information shared by our terrific sponsor Castor & Pollux and the rest of our Event Barkers team.  If you're interested in finding answers to more #OrganicPet questions, check on the Castor & Pollux Facebook page this week.

Also, if you'd like to find a store near you that carries Castor & Pollux products, check out this handy store locator. We're happy to find a Whole Foods, PetSmart, Petco and a number of natural food stores and pet speciality stores that carry the brand near us. Rocco and I will be going shopping!

Thanks to everyone who attended the #OrganicPet Twitter party last night and to all of you who helped spread the word by entering in our pre-party giveaways. There are going to be a lot of happy pups receiving terrific prizes from Castor & Pollux!

So without further ado, here are our #OrganicPet prize winners:

$70 Prize Pack of goodies from Castor & Pollux

Pre-party winners -- $70 prize pack

These folks won our pre-party giveaway by tweeting, RSVPing and entering the giveaway via the giveaway widget on the three of the Event Barker host blogs -- All Things Dog Blog, DogTipper and To Dog With Love.

@vadebby1

@dropastitch

@SnowyWestie

#Organic Pet Twitter party -- $70 prize pack winners

These folks won via a random draw during the Twitter party simply by tweeting with hashtag #OrganicPet.

@Melinda74

@Icing2MyCake

@WindWolfPhoto 

@ChiDivaonaDime

@marleykristin

@HauntedTeaCup

The $70 prize pack includes:

• One 5.25-pound bag of ORGANIX Grain-Free Adult Dog Food; the No. 1 ingredient is organic free-range chicken
• Five cans in a variety of flavors of ORGANIX Butcher & Bushel canned food for dogs; featuring hearty cuts of certified organic meats and vegetables
• Four bags of new ORGANIX Jerky Chip Cookies;  all-natural dog cookie treats oven-baked with organic oatmeal and protein-packed jerky chip  
• One can of new Natural Ultramix Real Pumpkin Ultrablend or Real Sweet Potato Ultrablend; dietary supplements that offer a vitamin-rich, high fiber puree to keep pets' tummies happy!

Grand Prize winner -- $120 prize pack

Example of Grand Prize prize pack. *Dog not included!

Chosen at random from all the #OrganicPet party participants, @MaryBethBlanton was our super lucky grand prize winner and she'll receive this awesome prize pack from @CastorPolluxPet:

• Phone and/or email consultation with ORGANIX pet parent relations expert Cyndi Rappe to help customize the prize for your pet
• ORGANIX dog food (specific brand and quantity tailored to your dog’s lifestyle needs)
• One case of ORGANIX Butcher and Bushel canned food for dogs (12 cans, variety of flavors)
• Four bags of ORGANIX Jerky Chip Cookies in a variety of flavors
• One can each of Natural Ultramix Real Pumpkin Ultrablend and Real Sweet Potato Ultrablend dietary supplements

Wow! That's a lot of goodies!

Thanks to everyone who participated.  We hope you enjoy your Castor & Pollux goodies. Rocco sure does!

Stay tuned for more Event Barkers Twitter parties coming up in the next few months! Subscribe to the Event Barkers newsletter so you don't miss a thing!

We are working with Castor & Pollux through our partnership in Event Barkers to produce this Twitter party and share product news with our readers. Prizes will be provided and shipped by Castor & Pollux. At To Dog With Love, we only share information we believe in and all opinions expressed herein are our own.

Review: All-Natural ORGANIX Jerky Chip Cookies #OrganicPet

Rocco couldn't wait to be an ORGANIX Jerky Chip Cookies taste tester!

With all the training we do, we go through LOTS of treats! So it's important to us that our treats are not only tasty, but packed with wholesome ingredients too.

So we were super excited to try new ORGANIX Jerky Chip Cookies from Castor & Pollux, the folks whose ORGANIX product line was the first certified organic dog and cat food to meet all of the requirements established by the USDA’s National Organic Program.

Rocco keeps his eye on the prize!

We know we're not the only ones, concerned about the quality and safety of our treats. Many pet parents want to know where their dog treats come from, especially given recent safety concerns over jerky treats.  ORGANIX answers that concern by making the Jerky Chip cookies in the USA, with no ingredients from China. 

The cookies come in four flavors:

• Oatmeal & Chicken
• Oatmeal & Salmon
• Oatmeal & Beef
• Oatmeal & Lamb

They're available in 10-oz. bags for $7.99 at PetSmart and select online retailers.

All the flavors are oven-baked with organic whole grains -- organic oatmeal, organic barley, organic brown rice, organic oat flour -- and protein-packed with jerky chips from high quality proteins like chicken, salmon, beef and lamb. The cookies also contain organic fruits and vegetables including organic peas, organic apples and organic carrots, and contain no corn, soy or wheat.

The Oatmeal & Chicken recipe is made with 95 percent organic ingredients (including organic chicken), so this recipe can bear the USDA Organic logo on the front of the bag.

So now for the real test… what does Rocco have to say?

Rocco gives ORGANIX Jerky Chip cookies four paws up! He loves the crunch, and by the look of his face he sure is savoring the flavor.

I like them too for their wholesome ingredients, and they're easy to break apart into tiny pieces for training. 

Lots of other dogs have been taste-testing the first batches of ORGANIX Jerky Chip cookies, and you can check out what they have to say in the #ASmartCookie gallery on the Castor & Pollux Facebook page. 

Want a chance to sample some ORGANIX Jerky Chip Cookies and learn more about organic pet foods?

Mark your calendar for this Sunday, May 4, 8-9 p.m. ET when we'll be co-hosting the #OrganicPet Twitter Party! 

We'll be there with the experts from Castor & Pollux, who will be on hand to answer all your questions. 

You'll also have the chance to win prizes from Castor & Pollux (including Jerky Chip cookies!) valued from $70 - $120! Head over to our RSVP post to enter our pre-party giveaways and RSVP for this great event!

We are working with Castor & Pollux through our partnership in Event Barkers to produce this Twitter party and share product news with our readers. Prizes will be provided and shipped by Castor & Pollux. At To Dog With Love, we only share information we believe in and all opinions expressed herein are our own.

         

Reminder: Mark Your Calendar for #OrganicPet Twitter Party Sunday, May 4!

Just six days to go until the #OrganicPet Twitter party with Castor & Pollux, and we couldn't be more excited! The event will be loaded with fun, oodles of great giveaways and lots of helpful organic tips.

Here's all you need to know to join in the fun:

• Date: Sunday, May 4
• Time: 8-9 p.m. ET
• Venue: Follow hashtag #OrganicPet on Twitter
• Prizes: $750 in prizes from our terrific sponsor Castor & Pollux!
• RSVP: Don't forget to RSVP here for a chance to win three pre-party prizes!

Win fab prizes like these! *Dog not included!

Who to follow

The Castor & Pollux Pet Parent Relations Team:

The experts from Castor & Pollux will be on hand @castorpolluxpet to answer your questions about pet food and nutrition and offer advice about feeding organic and natural food to pets. 

The Pet Parent Relations team includes: Pete Brace, vice president of pet parent relations & communications; Cyndi Rappe, manager of the pet parent relations team; and Betsy Berger, manager of social media for Castor & Pollux. 

When asking your questions on Twitter, add a "Q" to the front of your tweet to @castorpolluxpet to let them know you are looking for an answer. If your questions doesn't get answered during the party, check the Castor & Pollux Facebook page, where they will answer those questions during the following week.

Your hosts:

Please follow your hosts @EventBarkers, @DogTipper, @AllThingsDog, @ToDogWithLove,  @Learnin2bGreen and @EcoPetStrategy
for fun info, tips and prizes.

@EventBarkers will provide prize winner notifications  so if you don't follow, they can't DM you with prize details. Don't miss out!

@RoccoHavanese and his anipals Oliver and Tanner at @FiveMinutesforFido are co-hosting too! Follow them for more fun, food and treats!

When to arrive 

Come a little early and check in with @EventBarkers when you get there to let them know you've arrived.  The party officially starts at 8 p.m. ET but we'll be opening the doors for you at 7:30 p.m. ET. The first winner will be announced promptly at 8, so don't be late!

How to win prizes

Winners are chosen from participation, not from correct answers to questions asked. So chat with your pals, ask questions and share your thoughts… just be sure to tweet with hashtag #OrganicPet and you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win prizes!

We can't wait to see you at #OrganicPet this Sunday!


We are working with Castor & Pollux through our partnership in Event Barkers to produce this Twitter party and share product news with our readers. Prizes will be provided and shipped by Castor & Pollux. At To Dog With Love, we only share information we believe in and all opinions expressed herein are our own.

Review: Give Your Dog a Bone With ORGANIX Butcher & Bushel Canned Food #OrganicPet

Rocco's been busy these last few weeks sampling lots of goodies from Castor & Pollux's ORGANIX brand of food and treats. And, since he so thoroughly enjoyed the Butcher and Bushel Grain-Free canned food, he asked if he could tell you about it in today's post.

So take it away Rocco!

Hiya pals! It's me, Rocco, here today to tell you all about ORGANIX Butcher and Bushel canned dog food from Castor and Pollux.

You all know how much I like to run fast and jump high, so it's super important that I get fed well and often with something that I LOVE to eat! 

But before I got to the taste test, mom made me learn all about Castor & Pollux and ORGANIX, the most complete line of certified organic natural food for pets under the USDA’s National Organic Program.

Please mom, can I taste Butcher and Bushel already! 

I learned that Butcher and Bushel, the canned food from ORGANIX, comes in five tasty flavors, all made with lots of chunky pieces of organic meats, fruits and vegetables. 

It's all tested and safe to help keep me healthy, and what's really cool about the organic ingredients is they NEVER EVER contain chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, artificial preservatives, growth hormones or antibiotics.  And, Butcher and Bushel is all made in the USA from high-quality certified organic ingredients.

But what's REALLY cool, is that in the Butcher & Bushel Chicken Wing & Thigh Dinner, there are actual BONES! That's right! Mom said it was ok for me to eat the bones because Butcher & Bushel uses a special process to pressure cook the bones right inside the can, making the bones soft and safe for me to eat.

These are what the bones look like in the Butcher & Bushel Chicken
Wing & Thigh Dinner. I usually eat out of a bowl, but mom
put these on a plate so you can see them better.

The chef even left a nice note on the side of the can so that everyone knows that these specially cooked bones are safe for doggies. 

First, I thought mom made a mistake by giving me the bone, so I grabbed it and RAN! But it crumbled really easily when I bit into it, so I knew it was a special bone.  

I personally like the bone whole, but you can easily crumble it up for your pup or take it out all together (but I vote for leaving it in for all my doggie pals to enjoy!). 

If you don't believe me, take a look at what this nice Atlanta vet has to say. 

Dr. Anderson's pup Allie sure looks like she loves the Chicken Wing & Thigh Dinner too. Maybe she can come over for dinner sometime and we'll have a Butcher and Bushel buffet together!

Nom, nom. nom,,,

Finally, mom let me get to the taste test! 

I stuck my whole head in…

And then I licked the plate clean! urp!

That's some tasty goodness from ORGANIX Butcher & Bushel! More please!

I'll be taste testing more yummy treats from Castor & Pollux next week, but in the meantime look at these reviews from our pals at DogTipper and All Things Dog Blog.

And, don't forget, I'm helping give away $750 worth of Castor & Pollux goodies at the May 4 #OrganicPet Twitter Party. You can RSVP for a chance to win three pre-party prizes here.

If you can't wait (I know how that is, I'm kind of impatient about my meals too) find Castor & Pollux at a store near you using this handy store locator.


We are working with Castor & Pollux through our partnership in Event Barkers to produce this Twitter party and share product news with our readers. Prizes will be provided and shipped by Castor & Pollux. At To Dog With Love, we only share information we believe in and all opinions expressed herein are our own.

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Get Ready for $100s in Prizes at #OrganicPet Twitter Party

Rocco is perusing some of the terrific prizes from Castor & Pollux
we'll be giving away at the May 4 #OrganicPet Twitter Party

The excitement is building for the Event Barkers May 4 #OrganicPet Twitter Party with Castor & Pollux! If you haven't RSVP'd yet. Don't miss out! Ten lucky winners will win $750 worth of prizes! That's a whole lot of tasty, natural and organic food and treats for your pup from Castor & Pollux.

You can RSVP here and enter our #OrganicPet giveaways for the chance to win one of three prizes (each valued at $70) even before the party begins! Then, be sure to mark you calendar for May 4 from 8-9 p.m. ET for even more fun, organic info and prizes!

Here's what you can win at #OrganicPet!

Nine prizes valued at $70!

Nine prizes valued at $70:

• One 5.25-pound bag of ORGANIX Grain-Free Adult Dog Food; the No. 1 ingredient is organic free-range chicken
• Five cans in a variety of flavors of ORGANIX Butcher & Bushel canned food for dogs; featuring hearty cuts of certified organic meats and vegetables
• Four bags of new ORGANIX Jerky Chip Cookies;  all-natural dog cookie treats oven-baked with organic oatmeal and protein-packed jerky chip  
• One can of new Natural Ultramix Real Pumpkin Ultrablend or Real Sweet Potato Ultrablend; dietary supplements that offer a vitamin-rich, high fiber puree to keep pets' tummies happy!

One Grand Prize valued at $120:

• Phone and/or email consultation with ORGANIX pet parent relations expert Cyndi Rappe to help customize the prize for your pet
• ORGANIX dog food (specific brand and quantity tailored to your dog’s lifestyle needs)
• One case of ORGANIX Butcher and Bushel canned food for dogs (12 cans, variety of flavors)
• Four bags of ORGANIX Jerky Chip Cookies in a variety of flavors
• One can each of Natural Ultramix Real Pumpkin Ultrablend and Real Sweet Potato Ultrablend dietary supplements

Rocco checks out food, treats and more in the Grand Prize Package!

*Dog not included!

Wow! That's a lot of super prizes. Rocco's head is about to fall off sniffing out all the tasty products you can win for your pup!

And what's even better, all these products are made in the USA by Castor & Pollux, whose ORGANIX product line was the first certified organic dog and cat food to meet all of the requirements established by the USDA’s National Organic Program.

Don't forget to RSVP for a chance to win! We'll see you May 4 at the #OrganicPet Twitter Party!

We are working with Castor & Pollux through our partnership in Event Barkers to produce this Twitter party and share product news with our readers. Prizes will be provided and shipped by Castor & Pollux. At To Dog With Love, we only share information we believe in and all opinions expressed herein are our own.