We don't "own" our dogs and cats; they are family members and companions who are treated with love and respect. Our office looks like a pet playground with a furry friend in almost every corner or vacant chair. (We actually have more dogs and cats then we do employees!)

We have Molly, Chris and Kim's Golden; Dallas, Dave and Paige's Golden; Floyd, Monty and Lorraine's Maine Coon Cat; Zack and Emma, Billy and Robin's Airedale and Yellow Lab; Zeta, Jeremy and Tonya's Toy Poodle; Tabitha, Samantha's pleasantly plump cat; Bailey, Caryn's lovable, tail-wagging pooch; Gorby and George, Joyce's lovable felines; and Jojo, Jake and Freddy, Dan and Alicia's Persian Cat, Boston Terrier and Shiba Inu.

And, of course, there's Blue, Bill and Jackie's large breed Airedale, who is the inspiration for our company and one of the best pals who ever put on a collar.

When Blue had his last bout with cancer, we did some research and found out that cancer is the number one cause of death for both dogs and cats. We also found out that this is not just a "living longer" phenomenon, it's showing up in younger dogs and cats as well. And while there's a lot of research going on relative to the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer, many veterinarians are beginning to link the increases in environmental toxins with the growing incidence of this disease.

We hadn't thought much about toxins in the past, but when we looked into it a little further we found that they are virtually everywhere. Almost all of the household surface and rug cleaners have warnings on their labels; lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides are toxic (just look at all of those little yellow signs) and the list goes on. This doesn't even include air pollution and the decline in water quality (which is why bottled water has become a multibillion-dollar business). All of these things have a big impact on dogs and cats because of their size and proximity to the toxins themselves.

Once we had this information we decided to make a food that would both nourish and protect our companions. Our first step was meeting with leading experts in canine and feline nutrition. With them, we developed the BLUE™ Life Protection Formula dog food and BLUE™ Spa Select™ cat food, which are true breakthroughs in canine and feline health.

BLUE Life Protection Formula and BLUE Spa Select start with real chicken, lamb or fish as the first ingredient and plenty of whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruit. BLUE will provide your companion with the unsurpassed nutrition veterinarians and breeders recommend. But that's just the start.

BLUE takes health to a higher level by adding the extra protection of LifeSource Bits. A precise blend of nutrients and antioxidants that have been cold formed to preserve their full potency; LifeSource Bits will help defend your companions from the negative impact of environmental toxins while strengthening their immune system. LifeSource Bits also provide support for the special life stage requirements of dogs and cats.

Lastly, and of equal importance, BLUE Life Protection Formula and BLUE Spa Select contain no animal by-products, artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, and no corn, wheat or soy, which have all been known to trigger allergies.

If you haven't tried either BLUE Life Protection Formula or BLUE Spa Select with LifeSource Bits, we hope you do soon. They set a new standard in healthy dog and cat food, and we guarantee that you'll be completely satisfied.

Your friends at The Blue Buffalo Co.