Gamehide,Jackets ,Bird Dogs & Training  |  08/01/2019

QUAIL FOREVER CONSERVATION PARTNER PURINA CELEBRATES 125TH ANNIVERSARY


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With deep roots dating back to 1894, Purina, the leading food and litter manufacturer for dogs and cats in the U.S., is celebrating a landmark 125 years. With trusted brands such as Pro Plan, Purina ONE, Dog Chow and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, Purina is proudly committed to producing the highest quality products that feed millions of pets every day. 

A dedicated supporter of upland habitat conservation, Purina is a proud and longtime partner of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. 

“2019 marks a milestone in the history of our company,” Purina CEO Joe Sivewright says. “We look forward to writing the next chapter of Purina’s great story with partners like Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever that share our purpose and values.” 

“At Purina, we're intent on celebrating hardworking dogs and people who share a passion for the outdoors,” says Purina Director of Sporting Dog Programs Karl Gunzer, whose team sponsors and attends 300+ sporting dog events every year and manages Purina’s relationships with conservation organizations like Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “We enjoy working with PF and QF members and providing their dogs with outstanding nutrition to help them be their absolute best, while also helping to benefit upland habitat conservation.” 

William H. Danforth founded the company that would become known as Ralston Purina in St. Louis, where the company maintains a strong presence. Based on the company’s slogan, “Where Purity is Paramount,” Purina was incorporated into the company’s name in 1902, the same year it adopted the iconic Checkerboard logo. 

Throughout its history, Purina has revolutionized the pet food industry. The company opened the first-ever pet nutrition and care center in 1926 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Missouri, to confirm the palatability and nutrition of its pet foods. In 1957, Purina introduced extrusion, a manufacturing process now standard for dry pet foods that produces a flavorful, expanded particle, or “kibble,” with superior palatability and appearance. Nearly 30 years later, the company established the groundbreaking Pro Plan brand, the first of its kind with real meat as the No. 1 ingredient. Today, Pro Plan is the official performance dog food of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. 

Purina’s global team of 500+ scientists, including nutritionists, behaviorists, veterinarians and other specialists, are continually innovating and shaping the future of pet care. Their research has led to powerful nutritional breakthroughs, such as Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Formula to help optimize a hardworking dog’s endurance, Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND to help promote a dog’s healthy aging, Purina Pro Plan SAVOR dry formulas with guaranteed live probiotics to help support a dog’s digestive and immune health, and, most recently, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements Calming Care with a strain of beneficial bacteria shown to help a dog maintain calm behavior. 

Purina holds all of its products to the highest safety and quality standards, setting the gold standard for the industry. Purina products are made in Purina-owned U.S. facilities and, in a typical production day, undergo 100,000+ quality checks involving ingredient/packaging, receiving, processing and packing. 

Purina is steadfast in making its products in a sustainable way to help safeguard the environment. This includes reducing waste, optimizing energy and being good stewards of water. The company also is working with farmers and conservation leaders to improve the environment where its ingredients are grown or raised. 

Above all, Purina’s core belief over the past 125 years is that pets – including bird dogs of course -- and people are better together is a constant that will never change.