Purina is openly using kangaroo meat in its canned dog food variety Supercoat Casserole with kangaroo, vegetables and rice and in Ruffs Kangaroo Trick Sticks and Hide & Snack with Kangaroo. But kangaroo is also an ingredient in other products that don't carry it in the product name, such as Bonnie Puppy and Bonnie Working Dog.

The commercial slaughter of kangaroos is a cruel business. Each year around 4 million kangaroos are killed in Australia's outback by the commercial industry. A large portion of the kangaroos end up in pet food products. This large scale killing puts pressure on the population and with shooting taking place at night in remote locations it is impossible to effectively monitor this industry or the welfare of the kangaroos involved

A National Code of Practice requires that a kangaroo be killed by a single shot to the head, but evidence shows that in tens of thousands of cases the shooter does not succeed in doing so, causing injury and prolonged suffering.

Joeys are of no commercial value to shooters, but a 2009 report by wildlife ecologist Dr Dror Ben-Ami estimates that some 440,000 young kangaroos fall victim to this industry regardless. After their mothers are shot, joeys may be killed by the shooter, but many will escape, only to die from predation or starvation. Smaller 'in pouch' joeys are allowed to be killed by decapitation or a blow to the head. It is common for them to be whacked against the tow-bar of the shooter's vehicle to deliver the blow.

You can help stop the suffering of kangaroos in this brutal industry by letting Purina know that cruelty to animals is not a good ingredient for pet food. Please contact Purina to speak up for kangaroos:

Please write to the Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith Stephen.Smith.MP@aph.gov.au

• Indicate your concern about the killing of kangaroos on Defence department land (in the ACT and elsewhere) and urge him to ensure only humane non-lethal population management of native animals by his Department.

Please write to the Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au

• Indicate your concern about the ongoing commercial killing of kangaroos due to the problems exposed in the new ‘A Shot in the Dark’ report, particularly the wounding of kangaroos and terrible suffering of joeys each night in Australia.