Pet food sematary: who do ya trust?

Proctor & Gamble has launched a newspaper ad blitz to allay the pet-owning public's fears over the poisoned pet food crisis.

While the revenue-strapped daily newspaper industry certainly appreciates the cash flow, it's money down a rat hole, if you read behind the headlines (which, of course, requires a little effort.)

Who are the panel of "experts" saying Proctor & Gamble's pet food products are sho' enough good to the last lick?

Of the seven veterinarians on the panel, three have appeared as endorsers in ads for Iams, another is affiliated with Veterinary Pet Insurance (a company with which Iams has a promotional partnership), another was a speaker at an Iams-sponsored symposium in February, another is a former Iams employee, and the last is a past recipient of a five-year research grant from Iams.

"You'd have to ask them" about their independence, the spokesman said.

We won't be buying any of these tainted products til we see a panel of P&G executives and experts eat their own dog and cat food themselves, live on Oprah! and maybe on Letterman, too.

And where's President Bush amidst this scandal? Get Rove on this ASAP. This is public relations winner just sittin' there!