I had the pleasure of interviewing Joan Weiskopf, the author of 'Pet Food Nation.' This book takes a serious look at the pet food industry and even challenges the way in which pet owners feed their pets. The book brings up a lot of interesting concepts from the perspective of a veterinary clinical nutritionist and pet owner. As a dog owner myself, I was anxious to ask Joan a few questions of my own.

1) Did you choose the title 'Pet Food Nation' because of the popularity of the book 'Fast Food Nation'? Did you read that book? Was it an inspiration to you in your attempt to expose the truths of the pet food industry in this country?

Lisa Sharkey, SVP/Director of Creative Development at HarperCollins came up with the idea to call the book 'Pet Food Nation,' and yes, she was inspired by her love of HarperCollins' existing bestseller 'Fast Food Nation,' and yes, it was to instantly let book buyers know that there would be some sort of an explanation (as opposed to an actual expose) of what their beloved dogs and cats really eat, to help them understand why home cooking is best for your pet, and if not home cooking, at least informed label reading.

2) You describe the way you feed your dogs in your book. Eggs, sauteed veggies, special concoctions of nutritious foods. What were the initial reactions of your friends and family when you first began feeding your pets in this manner?

I've been mostly feeding this way as long as I can remember. Back as a child, we didn't have full aisles in supermarkets or discount stores devoted to pet foods. In rural areas, the family dogs and cats certainly ate whatever was "prepared" on the farm. My friends and family accept my approach to feeding pets, and many have followed my methods, happily keeping their loving pets healthy and happy for many years. Though some of them may tease me about my preparation, they always welcome my tips and advice on home-prepared foods. They especially love bringing their dogs or cats over for a visit to share my bountiful feasts, but also enjoy when I visit and cook at their homes as well. Many gladly try to incorporate some of my methods and know that on days which are hurried, they can feed one of my recommended commercial kibbles with confidence and then return to preparations another day. This method has worked successfully for hundreds of friends, family and clients.

3) You say you love both dogs and cats ... but which are you really, a dog or cat person? Why?

I guess I must confess to being a DOG person. I rejoice in the companionship of my canine friends who are so devoted and willingly accept my lifestyle. My chosen breed, the Bedlington terrier, is loyal, intelligent, very funny, and adaptable. They are clean and easily trained, and they enjoy both canine and human companions. They also enjoy the company of a feline friend. My dogs have also shared their home with guinea pigs and never aggressively attempted to make them a meal! As a person involved in showing, this breed is a challenge to present due to the grooming, but for me the fact that they don't shed is a plus. The sculpture I present to a judge is a joy for me each time I do it.

4) Someone I know takes his dog out for ice cream every Sunday afternoon. Is it OK to feed your dog ice cream?

A treat of a bit of ice cream is fine once in a while, but there are cases when ice cream will not agree with your pet, especially in large quantities. Dogs and cats lose the ability to digest lactose (milk) past infancy, so they become the equivalent of a human that is lactose intolerant. A little dairy once a week should be fine in many cases, but if in doubt or if you notice gastric distress, perhaps a treat of frozen yogurt will work instead.

5) There's a lot of information in this book, and even if I were convinced that I wanted to start introducing this new diet to my pet, it all seems a bit overwhelming. What if I mess up and give my dog something that makes him really sick? Wouldn't I be better off avoiding the risk and just staying with the store-bought food?

The introduction of a new diet for your pet should not be overwhelming. Most pet owners have been brainwashed over the past 40 or 50 years into believing that corporate America can feed your dog or cat better than you can. That is just plain silly! You can do a great job just as you do a great job at feeding yourself and your family. Remember the basics: Dogs and cats are carnivores, they need meat in order to get their protein requirements satisfied. That is a very simple concept. And don't forget that good nutrition is a long-term project. Just as we do not eat a perfectly balanced meal at every go, in the wild the dog or cat did not either. But over time balance occurs. So patience is important when you're first starting out.

You will NOT mess up. Dogs and cats are designed to forage and kill to eat. There were times they didn't eat at all. When you think of it this way, what is the risk in providing fresh, wholesome foods instead of packaged "words" that you mostly cannot even pronounce?

You all have the ability to follow the program I lay out in 'Pet Food Nation.' It is simple and a wonderful way to further your bonds of love and understanding with your pet. While I give you easy recipes, you are also able to take pieces of them and improvise. You may use a "kibble" as a crutch but gradually gain confidence adding fresh foods. Watch your pets, check their coats, their energy, their weight and adjust accordingly. Feeding the same thing every time is a sure way to induce an allergic response. Variety here is the spice of life. In the wild, the animals wouldn't kill and eat the same thing every day either.

6) My dog is turning 14 this month. He's always eaten store-bought dog food. Is he too old to start an entirely new diet?

It is NEVER too late to change your pet's diet. You will be doing him a world of good, but the change must be gradual. In my book Pet Food Nation, I give a schedule for this transition but a switch should take from 10-14 days beginning by serving your dog 75 percent of the old food and 25 percent of the new diet at first. Once your pet takes to this, alter the ratio to half old diet, half new diet and again wait for a few days to make sure he is doing well with the change. You may then proceed to 75 percent of the new fresh foods and wait for stability ... voila, he is switched for good! Any mild gastric distress is not to be blamed on the new diet. It is the dog's way of ridding himself and cleansing the old food. A slow change allows toxins to be flushed out gradually without upset.

7) Have you done any cost comparison between feeding your dog regular can to dry/canned food vs. cooking yourself? It seems like it would be rather costly to make the switch.

I am always checking out new foods for our pets that appear on the shelves of grocery stores and pet stores. I must say of late I have noticed a bunch of new additions that seem excellent but are quite pricey. Keeping in mind that canned foods are 75 percent full of water, when they are priced at $2.50 to $4.50, that strikes me as a lot. Kibble is priced all over the board but it is important to note that kibble is not predominantly meat protein, it is usually mostly grain. Our dogs and cats should not be eating that much grain, and in the case of cats probably none at all. Therefore, if you have paid $10 for 20 pounds of food, the chance that you've received any high-quality meat protein is slim to none.

I will use my own dog as a guide for cost analysis. He is a terrier, weighs 20 pounds, receives better than average exercise and is middle-aged. Basically his dinner consists of 4-5 ounces of meat and some vegetables too. Vegetables can be bought frozen, as they do not lose many nutrients by being flash frozen. Three pounds of frozen string beans can cost $2.25 on sale, for instance. I am a vegetarian, so usually I just buy extra veggies for my dogs when I'm shopping for myself, or during the Pennsylvania growing season I save money by growing a great deal of vegetables in my garden. I really save where I can by providing my own ingredients. Mostly I use chicken bought directly from an organic grower/packer. I pay about 70 cents per pound for backs or riblets which have a lot of meat on the bones. For lunch I feed him a chicken neck, which I purchase for the same 70 cents a pound. I honestly believe that I feed him for under $1 per day as he gets breakfast as well, consisting usually of chicken hearts/gizzards/liver and vegetables plus some yogurt and possibly some oatmeal, pasta, quinoa, buckwheat or the like.

Now I admit this is not an exact answer with an Excel spreadsheet cost analysis, but I point out that I feed the best organic chicken and veggies for my estimated price, while bagged foods of any quality cost at least what I am paying and in several cases very likely more.

8) Do you think in 10 or 20 years that more pet owners will start feeding their pets this way?

It is my hope that we return to the way it was perhaps 50 years ago when mega corporations from $20-billion industries were not making our feeding decisions for us. Just last week Wal-Mart quietly began to remove pet treats made in China from their shelves after customers complained their pets were getting sick. I do not condemn every pet food, and 'Pet Food Nation' was not written to "pick" on the pet food makers. I wrote the book to provide you with a tool to try an alternative. A tool for a healthy alternative you may have been afraid to try because you think the pet food industry can do better than your own efforts in feeding your pet. They cannot do better, and all of you can do this, even if this means just adding some fresh meats and vegetables to the daily ration of store-bought food.

Try small steps to transition into this feeding program. We all have many demands on our lives and some days it seems impossible to cook even for ourselves, but the recipes found in 'Pet Food Nation' can all be made ahead and frozen in meal-sized portions. Or once in a while you can use that good-quality kibble or canned food. If your family orders from Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner, it is fine to peel back some skin and share that chicken with your favorite canine or feline. I am not telling you to turn your pet into a fast food junkie, they should have a regular meal schedule with a planned feeding program, but exceptions are necessary in all of our lives. If your pets are used to a more natural feeding program, a little trip off of the wagon will not hurt.

9) Is there a support group or online community that you're aware of that meets or talks about their commitment to feeding their pets in this way?

There are many groups for all kinds of discussions about all types of alternative feeding and to support the raw feeders among us. I know of a list on Yahoo called k9kitchen. Again, I don't condemn canned food or kibble and recommend www.frrco.com/7478, Flint River Pet Foods, or www.natureslogic.com. Eagle makes a holistic fare that is good, and Merrick makes some nice canned diets with kibble to go along.

E-mail me at peremi@earthlink.net and we can discuss your personal questions. I invite and welcome your intelligent questions about how to keep up this more natural way of cooking for our pets.

Click here to learn more about 'Pet Food Nation' and purchase it.