I feed my beasts a raw diet. I recently learned about Swanson’s Meats in Minneapolis. They have a wonderful program Raws for Paws for people like me to purchase a variety of carnivorous delectables. You can purchase large quantities for a fraction of the price you would pay simply marketing for your dogs. Which - if you start getting lazy can get really expensive.

When I moved away from my beloved Seward Co-op where I was purchasing chicken backs in 40lb cases I started roaming grocery stores for good deals and buying en mass. Things like pork shoulders, turkey necks and backs, chicken necks and backs and ham hocks. To acquire a substantial stash I had a route. And folks when you get too consistent about something people notice. I mean how many times can you tell the cashier at Cub you are purchasing 8 packs of turkey necks for your grandmother? Because yes they start to ask questions. Not to mention the meat department crew who eye you up when you come to clean them out of pork shoulders.

Then I got lazy. Byerley’s is the closest grocery store to my home. So I started supplementing my lapses in full on meaty bone runs with what I could find closer to home. An 8 piece pack of chicken got me through two days of feedings. Boy was that getting expensive! But the dogs were livin’ high on the hog. That’s when I discovered Swanson’s.

I am new to Raws for Paws. So far I have made two purchases. The first purchase was 40 lbs of ground chicken backs. As a vegetarian I must tell you that feeding the beasts raw meat isn’t the most pleasant chore of my day. Feeding raw ground chicken backs - down right disgusting! They love it though and that is what really counts. The 40 lbs of ground goods cost me $33 bucks and lasted 6 weeks! For three dogs! Which works out to be roughly 0.78 a day. Much better for the pocketbook.

This past Wednesday I picked up my second order from Raws. I decided to go back to something with a little more crunchy texture - you know for variety. So I went with 20 lbs of chicken necks and 20 lbs of chicken backs. When I got home with my boxes I was certain I would open them to find the frozen necks and backs nestled neatly within. Ah no. Instead I found large bricks of frozen compressed in appearance chicken parts. Oh boy. It would appear that during the processing process the parts are tossed into a tub where I imagine it gets a little juicy. (gag) Next I am envisioning that the tub is put in a freezer. Orders are placed. The pallet with the tub of frozen parts is moseyed on over to the saw. And presto it is sawed into much easier to deal with igloo-esque bricks for the motley little beasts of the twin cities area.

Try smashing two 20 lb bags of bricked up chicken parts into your refrigerator freezer. Good lord. But man the desire to keep soon to be juicy and moist chicken parts frozen is one hell of an incentive.

I have yet to defrost a brick. We still have a couple days of ground backs to ravage. But it will be interesting and thourghally disgusting I am sure. As feeding raw can be. Like the night I spent dicing beef hearts wearing disposable rubber gloves which I then had to cook because god forbid Debbie eat raw cow heart. Little bitch. Ike was perfectly content to do so. But I digress.

This past order from Raws was only $22. If it lasts 6 weeks the cost will be approximately 0.52 a day. Nice. Mamma’s happy, beasts are happy, chicken parts remain foul.

It is so worth the effort to feed raw. The benefits with regard to health far out weigh the momentary dalliances into the nasty. I highly recommend it to anyone considering it. And if you are considering or already feeding raw visit Raws for Paws. You can purchase, bison, lamb, goat, beef, poultry and your organ meats. Their customer service is fantastic!

As with anything regarding your dog’s health be sure to do your research! I like this lady’s site too.

Hmmm - I wonder how the beasts would like some chicken feet garnishes… something to ponder.

Chi loves him some raw chicken wings

Yum!

Filed under: Random Thoughts