Concerns over the safety of some pet food are driving more people to purchase premium food.
The Food and Drug Administration is investigating chicken jerky treats from China that have sickened thousands of dogs.
Those scares are prompting owners to look more carefully at what they're putting in their pet's bowl.
Inside this north Fresno pet food store, Muriel Perkins is picky about the products she sells to her customers.
"I want them all to be organic and healthy," Perkins said.
She favors products made in American because she knows the manufacturing processes tend to be strict.
"I have several brands to choose from because I watch what we bring in here. And make sure there's nothing that's going to harm the pets," Perkins said.
Premium pet food costs more than grocery store brands. But companies like Solid Gold Health Products for Pets uses only ingredients produced in this country and those that are chemical free.
"Foods made outside the U.S. don't have to face the same manufacturing protocol that we do here," said Leasa Greer with Solid Gold.
Greer says each batch of their food is tested before it leaves the manufacturing facility. And they only use American-made and chemical-free ingredients to ensure the quality of the food remains high.
Their sales have increased over the past ten years.
"Just like we try to feed our kids the best we can, customers, pet owners, are starting to do the same for their pets," Greer told us.
Greer says one way owners can protect their pets from potentially dangerous food and treats is to read the packaging and see where the product is made.
"If a pet food, either a treat or a pet food, is made outside of the U.S. it has to be labeled with the country of origin. If it's made in China it has to say made in China on the packaging," Greer said.
The Food and Drug Administration is investigating chicken jerky treats from China that have sickened thousands of dogs.
Those scares are prompting owners to look more carefully at what they're putting in their pet's bowl.
Inside this north Fresno pet food store, Muriel Perkins is picky about the products she sells to her customers.
"I want them all to be organic and healthy," Perkins said.
She favors products made in American because she knows the manufacturing processes tend to be strict.
"I have several brands to choose from because I watch what we bring in here. And make sure there's nothing that's going to harm the pets," Perkins said.
Premium pet food costs more than grocery store brands. But companies like Solid Gold Health Products for Pets uses only ingredients produced in this country and those that are chemical free.
"Foods made outside the U.S. don't have to face the same manufacturing protocol that we do here," said Leasa Greer with Solid Gold.
Greer says each batch of their food is tested before it leaves the manufacturing facility. And they only use American-made and chemical-free ingredients to ensure the quality of the food remains high.
Their sales have increased over the past ten years.
"Just like we try to feed our kids the best we can, customers, pet owners, are starting to do the same for their pets," Greer told us.
Greer says one way owners can protect their pets from potentially dangerous food and treats is to read the packaging and see where the product is made.
"If a pet food, either a treat or a pet food, is made outside of the U.S. it has to be labeled with the country of origin. If it's made in China it has to say made in China on the packaging," Greer said.