How We Ensure Pet Food Quality 🧡 🐾

Why this matters

Food affects recovery, health and behavior of shelter animals. At TailsPal we treat quality control as a community responsibility — a mix of practical checks, clear procedures and prompt responses.

Choosing reliable suppliers

• We request documentation about production practices and certifications from new suppliers.
• We assess reputation through feedback from shelters, veterinarians and long-term experience.
• We agree on delivery terms: packaging, labeling, storage conditions and batch identification.

The goal is to reduce surprises by confirming standards before acceptance.

Incoming inspections and quick visual checks

• Each delivered bag or can is checked for intact packaging, expiration date and batch codes.
• We perform basic sensory checks: smell, texture and any visible foreign particles.
• If anything looks off, the batch is held back for further evaluation.

These simple steps filter out obvious problems before the food reaches animals.

Lab testing and analytical checks

• When possible, we work with independent labs to test composition, microbial safety and contaminants.
• Testing is targeted: new brands, suspicious batches, or when animals show unusual reactions.
• We rely on documented results and avoid technical claims without evidence.

Laboratory analysis reveals issues that visual checks can't detect.

Storage and stock rotation

• Store food in dry, cool areas away from direct sunlight and pests.
• Use first-in, first-out (FIFO) to minimize storage time.
• Check packaging integrity at the point of distribution and monitor warehouse temperature and humidity.

Good storage prevents many quality problems before they start.

Training and community feedback

• Train staff and volunteers in basic quality checks and storage rules.
• Keep logs of observations and collect feedback from shelters and foster carers about animal reactions.
• Quick response to reports helps isolate affected batches promptly.

Documentation and actions on issues

• Maintain records of batches, supply dates and any quality incidents to simplify root-cause analysis.
• If a serious issue is confirmed, we stop using the batch and notify responsible parties to investigate or recall.

Bottom line

Ensuring pet food quality is a combination of supplier vetting, incoming checks, selective testing, correct storage and active feedback. At TailsPal, these steps help us protect the animals we care for and keep our community informed and involved.