LEWISBURG — Procter & Gamble Co. has shut down production at its Lewisburg pet food plant since July 30 because of salmonella contamination from an undetermined source there, a P&G spokesman said Wednesday, Aug. 18.

The company, whose brands include Iams and Eukanuba pet foods, is still trying to identify the source of the contamination, which may have come from chicken used to make the pet food, P&G spokesman Jason Taylor said.

 The current economy is causing pet owners to consider possible ways to save a bit of money on the care of their animals. I am all in favor of making economical decisions, as long as the animal doesn't suffer in the process.

 With over one hundred million pet owners in the United States alone, it is obvious that dogs and cats are considered an extremely valuable addition to the family. As affectionate and uncomplaining companions, our four legged friends provide much-needed interaction in an increasingly isolated existence. But animals are as subject to illness and accident as the humans that keep them. Medical costs continue to increase for not only humans but veterinarian care as well. The concept of pet insurance to help with the cost of pet care is an increasing market in the United States.

  A combination of epidemiological analysis and laboratory testing by state officials in Minnesota and Connecticut, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have enabled FDA to confirm that the sources of the outbreak of illnesses caused by Salmonella Typhimurium are peanut butter and peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at its Blakely, Georgia processing plant.

 Gainesville, Fla. -- A veterinary forensics program, under development by ASPCA and the University of Florida, was unveiled today. The joint venture, believed to be the nation's first, will "promote the application of forensic sciences to veterinary medicine to aid in the understanding, prevention and prosecution of animal cruelty."

 Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility. The pet food is being recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella serotypeSchwarzengrund.