raw foods: After researching online for a long time the benefits of a raw food diet for my dogs, I think I would like to start. However, where can I start shopping for the raw meats and veggies? I know i can't just go to wal-mart and buy some chicken and ground meat from the meat dept., right? I know someone said the meat has to fresh, the eggs have to be free range fresh, and the veggies and fruits organic---where am i going to find all this??|||Actually - walmart has some bloody great deals! I just bought several 3lb bags of sliced beef heart for less than a dollar each!!! There are some benefits to feeding free range, organic, no growth hormone or antibiotic feed food. It's better for the environment, your dog doesn't consume any of that stuff by secondary means. Genetically modified food can be some scary stuff - BUT yor dog can still hugely benefit from a raw diet if you DON'T feed it. It's largely a personal choice. I try to feed organic whenever I can, actually I try to buy organic for MYSELF whenever I cann too. But alot of the times I (and my wallet) can't say no to the "other" foods. Which of course all meet FDA requirments and are safe to eat. As far as freshness of meat - just like for us, make sure you use or FREEZE by the date on he package. (LOTS of great deals if you buy meat that's about to go out of date and freeze - stores mark it WAYYY down) Take a look for health food supermarkets in your area. I have a home economist market near me that sells all organic foods. Like the regular supermarkts near me - they mark the meat down too. Also like going there because I can get my probiotic, chlorophyl, flax seed oil supplements too! Trader Joes also has some good stuff. Farmers markets are great too! I often find organic fruits and veggies there. Plus the free range eggs - and it's all CHEAP. Plus I just love open air markets *grins* Ask local butchers as well - you may be able to get some meat "scrap" for a few bucks or even free! Nothing fresher. Some butchers even specialize in organic If you have a hunting community in your area - learn to LOVE deer season. Talk to places that offer deer processing - you can get a TON of totally fresh and organic meat that way too. For the stuff harder to find - buy online. It's not that expensive and once again you can choose the organic if you like. http://www.hare-today.com/ http://www.prey4pets.com/servlet/StoreFr… http://www.greentripe.com/ http://www.taylorpondfarms.com/ Good luck!|||Sure -you can feed any human grade meat with the raw diet. Most people try to find local butchers and such in order to save money though. If you see a super sale on chicken or such at the supermarket-stock your freezer! There are MANY philosophies to feeding raw. Some people are more purists and feed only what you posted others feed freezer burned meats they get from total strangers. It's all about what you are comfortable feeding and how well your dogs thrive on it.|||When it comes to organic food, dogs will benefit even more than humans because they are smaller creatures. Organic food is expensive though. There are companies that sell frozen raw dog food and also dehydrated raw dog food. Most likely you will need to buy it online. I posted a couple of links for you. I love Dr Pitcairn's book called "The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats"-- He even gives you hints on homemade recipes.|||Buy it wherever you can find it. Organic is good if you are rich and can afford it, but the same stuff we eat is fine for your pets. Ground Meat, or diced meat seems to work best. Buy the 73% lean so they get the little bit of fat that they need. I wash all my fresh vegetables just before I puree them. I use oatmeal for the filler. A VERY good site for you to check out is----- Pet-Grub.com|||In the UK we have butchers who prepare meat for their customers, often they are left with bones which they will give you. Chicken wings are fairly cheap. Lap of lamb, is lamb on the bone which is also very cheap. You will probably be giving them a small amount of liver which is not too expensive. There are also cuts of meat which a butcher (meat retailer) cannot sell. I don't eat meat however if you do, you should buy the meat for your own consumption from a supplier who will also supply you with cheap cuts of meat and bones for your dogs. Once you get organized on a raw diet for your dogs, it will be cheap and easy. At the outset you will need an additional freezer, plus a food processor. You will also need to study all of the information available to ensure that your dogs have a balanced diet. Look on the Internet at books written by Ian Billinghurst. You can use the trimming from your vegetable for your dogs, vegetables are cheap. Free range eggs are also cheap and you will not use a huge amount. I believe in raw diets. I investigated this, bought all of the books, an additional freezer a food processor and I cultivated suppliers. Although my dog liked meat on the bone she would not eat the other things. She became very thin and did not thrive; eventually I resorted to dried dog food. As you have several dogs, the competition will encourage them eat everything. My dog is now on a “grain free” dog food; however I would feel happier if I gave her REAL FOOD.