Furthermore, educated pet parents are now more wary of mass-produced commercial pets foods overall, due to the numerous recalls of recent years.

This has resulted in a small but growing cottage industry of independent pet treats and food makers in the U.S.

Another is Clear Conscience Pet, a maker of top-quality holistic award-winning dog treats and a pet food supplement based in Wilton, Conn.

The products are made with all-natural ingredients sourced from the U.S., and are completely free of grain, gluten and glycerin.

Here is some history about this company, and what makes their products unique.

Owners Who Are Educated About Pet Nutrition

The company was launched in 2010 by founder Anthony Bennie and his wife and co-founder, Amanda Malone Bennie, both of whom boast long, illustrious backgrounds in the holistic pet food movement.

Anthony began his career in the pet products industry as a natural pet food sales manager in 1991, and then started his own independent sales and marketing firm, PetReps, Inc., in 1995.

PetReps played a big role in the history and development of the holistic and natural pet nutrition industry as an independent partner to a company that became the leader in the emerging field of holistic pet foods and treats.

He has published numerous articles in the field of natural canine nutrition, and has been a guest lecturer at several major veterinary colleges including Cornell University, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, and the University of Florida at Gainesville.

Anthony has also trained thousands of pet retailers to effectively recommend appropriate natural pet nutrition in their stores.

As co-manager of the Earth Animal holistic pet shop in Westport, Conn., from 1994 to 2004, which was founded by veterinarian Dr. Bob Goldstein VMD, Amanda counseled many dog and cat parents about holistic nutrition options for their pets.

Unique All-Natural Pet Treats with a Clear Conscience

Like a lot of those in the pet industry, Anthony first became interested in healthy pet nutrition due to his experiences with his own dog.

“I got a puppy in 1991 at a trailer park in Vineland, N.J.,” said Anthony, who originally is from South Jersey. “She was a Chow Chow, my first dog ever. She was violently ill for the first six months of her life. There was no Internet, so I went to the library and researched dog nutrition. Carly lived to almost 16 years old. That’s how I got into this.”

Through the years, Anthony observed and did a lot of research about the commercial pet food industry. As a result, he became very wary about manufacturing processes that utilize irradiation, and ingredients such as glycerin.

“Irradiating food is counter to everything I believe in as a pet nutritionist,” he said. “It attacks the food at a cellular level and kills the nutrition.”

This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what Anthony shared with me, which could fill a book.

Regardless, these are among the important factors he considered when he devised his line of pet products, which took years.

What Clear Conscience Offers

The line includes:

Sliders and Tender Stickz: These are moist jerky treats available in a Beef & Cheddar and Chicken & Cheddar flavors that are made in the U.S. in government inspected plants. They contain beef from humane audited ranches that are fed vegetarian feed, and hormone and antibiotic free chicken.

Lamb Airy Bites and Beef Trachey Chewz: Bite sized cubes made from pasture raised U.S. lamb lungs, and large chews made from U.S. raised beef trachea. These hard treats are coated with flax and an ingredient called Super Veggies (which you can read more about below) via a patent pending process called OSV (Organic Super Veggie), which make these high in Omega 3 fatty acids and phytonutrients for immune system support.

Cruncherz: Grain- and gluten-free artisan baked vegan dog biscuits made from organic buckwheat flour, a grain-less fruit seed that is ground into gluten-free flour, which is a good alternative for dogs that may be allergic to grains or certain meat products. Available in four different flavors.

Super Gravy: A concentrated powdered pet food supplement with liver and heart from grass-fed bison; chia seed, derived from an herbal plant indigenous to Mexico that is known as a great source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids; and uncooked air dried spinach, pumpkin and carrots, which the company dubbed Organic Super Veggies.

My Furry ‘Cub Reporter’ Provides his Review

Although most of these products are for dogs, kitties can also enjoy some. Thus, Anthony sent my feline assistant, Murphy, some of these products for his review: Chicken Sliders, Beef & Cheddar Tender Stikz and the Super Gravy.

(I also received a package of Beef Trachey Chewz, which I plan to share with my retinue of canine correspondents.)

Murphy went absolutely nuts for these products!

When I first received the package of products in the mail, Murphy began pawing it and crying. As soon as I opened the bag containing the Sliders, he began meowing in delight! He could not get enough of them. The same went for the Tender Stickz.

He also loves, loves, LOVES the gravy, which is a very interesting product that turns any pet’s meal into irresistible super food.

All one has to do is mix a prescribed amount with warm water, blend with a pet’s food and they get loads of nutritional benefits.

This is especially great for pets that will only eat dry foods; ill and/or elderly pets that need a nutrition boost; finicky critters; and healthy pets, to keep them that way.

We give these pet products and this company with an obviously Clear Conscience two paws up.

To learn about the awards this company has received, please see my blog.