Caroline's Sharebook 

Kangaroos are the victims of the largest land-based wildlife massacre in the world. Every year the kangaroo industry kills millions of kangaroos for their meat and skins to make pet food, footwear and meat for human consumption. Their joeys are wrenched from their pouch and bashed to death, decapitated, shot or left to die as orphans from starvation, dehydration, stress or predation. Hundreds of thousands of joeys are dying this way every year in Australia due to the kangaroo industry.

Kangaroos are not in plague proportions but at critical densities of less than five per square kilometre across most of Australia. Since 2001 kangaroos have declined by 55%. Kangaroos are not farmed but hunted by the industry in the wild at night without supervision from vets or animal welfare authorities.

Kangaroos are not killed by the industry to protect farms or control the population, but for profit. Kangaroos breed very slowly and can only have one joey per year. Around 60% of joeys will die before they reach maturity.

Research shows there is negligible competition between kangaroos and livestock.

Kangaroos are integral to the Australian environment and have been in harmony with it for 50 million years. Kangaroos assist in the regeneration of native grasses, reduce the risk of wildfires and protect habitat from the invasion of non native herbivores.

Kangaroos have strong family bonds and have been observed to suffer severe grief when one of their mob dies.

(info from Australian Society for Kangaroos)

How  You Can Help

Refuse to buy products made from kangaroo meat or skins. Please see list of pet food and footwear companies who do/don't use kangaroo products below.

Shoe companies who use kangaroo skins: Adidas; Gideon; Hi-Tec; Nike.

Shoe companies who didn't deny the use of kangaroo skins: Puma; Reebok; Diadora; Converse.

Shoe companies who don't use kangaroo skins: Dunlop; Kswiss; ASICS; Brooks; Saucery; Rivers; Fila; Diana Ferrari.

Pet food companies who use kangaroo meat: Ecopet; VIP; Vets All Natural; Woolworths; Natures Gift; Eukanuba; Snappy Tom; Purina;

Pet Food companies who don't use kangaroo products: Lucky Dog; Pedigree; Pal; My Dog; Optimum Advantage; Nutridog; Four Legs;

If you would like to write to any of the companies who do use kangaroo "products", here's some addresses:

VIP - reception@vippetfoods.com.au Ph: 0755471700
Natures Gift - http://www.naturesgift.com.au/contact-us
Eukanauba - http://www.eukanuba.com.au/en-AU/email-expert.jspx
Woolworths - http://www.facebook.com/woolworths
http://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/phoenix.zhtml?c=144044&p=contact
Ecopet- http://www.ecopet.com.au/index2.html?contact.html~content

Meanwhile a website calling itself "the ethical consumers guide" http://www.ethical.org.au/contact/ which is recomending pet food companies use kangaroo as "sustainable and ethical". You can contact them here Co-ordinator: Nick Ray, email: info@ethical.org.au, phone: 0417 114 492. The Wildlife Protection Association of Australia has written to them, and has received reply asking for more information. Please write too if you have time.

The following is from the Kangaroo Protection Coalition

Wildlife groups call for Community Boycott of Purina Pet Foods!

Purina (owned by Nestle, we understand) have been running a national advertising campaign stating proudly that they use kangaroo meat in their tinned dog food. Dozens of people have contacted them by phone and email, pleading with them to stop using kangaroo meat.

They have all been laughed off, see a letter to me by Purina is below. So the wildlife groups have decided to mount a campaign asking pet owners to boycott Purina foods, and not only boycott them, but telling Purina why....by phone or email. Purina contact details are below......

Purina Letter to Pat O'Brien

Hi Pat,

Thank you for contacting the Ask Purina team. Thank you for contacting the Purina PetCare Advice Centre.

We at Purina recognise that this is a very emotional issue and we too are concerned that the culling of kangaroos conforms to the regulations laid down by the authorities. Purina is committed to making foods that dogs and cats enjoy while providing nutrition that enhances their health and wellbeing. We understand and share the strong feelings of love and respect pet owners have for their companion animals. In addition to this, Purina's support of the welfare of cats and dogs is reflected in its other activities such as the operation of its Petcare Advice line providing free advice to animal owners, its involvement in the development of an Australian Standard aimed at ensuring the safety of manufactured dog and cat food products and also its support of organisations such as Animal Welfare League Australia.

Purina only uses suppliers who are audited and approved by the Kangaroo Industry of Australia Association (KIAA). Every supplier that is selected by Purina and must meet the stringent codes set by this highly regulated and tightly governed industry. This is a highly regulated and audited industry which includes spot checks by government authorities to ensure humane killing practices are carried out. Our suppliers are audited and inspected regularly and we rely on these results to ensure that the appropriate practices are in place.

For further information regarding Purina products please contact our PetCare Advice Centre on 1800 738 238. For any advice on caring for your pets, please Ask Purina on 1800-738-238 or www.purina.com.au.

Best Regards,

Justine McCarthy Pet Care Advisor The Ask PURINA PetCare Team PURINA, Your Pet, Our Passion

Purina contact details are.....

Nestlé Purina PetCare, Level 6, 123 Epping Road, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Petcare Advice Line FREECALL, 1800 738 238 (Australia only)

You can also email them from their website at https://www.purina.com.au/Ask-Purina.aspx

Please contact them and tell them why you are not buying their product.