The best thing to happen to prey model style rawfeeding in Calgary! This is a buying group that was put together in early 2007. After joining the group, members get wholesale prices on a variety of items. For more info, check out the group website at www.calgaryraw.com

The groups on Yahoo! are email server lists, including a couple that might be of interest specifically to Alberta. You have to create a Yahoo ID if you don't already have one, then request to join each group.

• Calgary Raw Feeders -- http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CalgaryRawFeeders/ This group is a handful of us from in and around Calgary that use the group to let each other know about deals and discuss the diet and buying food in general.
• CFS - Canada -- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CFS-Canada/
  This is the main Canadian Carnivore Feed Supply group. I have found it moderately helpful in the time I have been a member. It's worth joining just in case!
• Pets Calgary -- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pets_calgary/
  Though it doesn't have anything to do with raw feeding, it's a good place to talk about Calgary-specific pet stuff.
• Natural Pets Calgary -- http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalPets_Calgary/
  This group is another Calgary-specific group, and is based around natural pet care for those in Calgary. It's not a very "busy" list, but there are several raw feeders and folks interested in natural pet care.

I feed a prey model style diet that centers around raw meaty bones and whole prey items like whole chicken, fish, and rabbit. Most of our dog food comes from grocery stores, butchers, and markets.

I am feeling a little apprehensive about sharing my favorite "hunting grounds" on such a potentially large scale as the internet, but the reality is that my audience isn't that wide, and my mother taught me that sharing is nice. I've always got my eye out for other sources, so if you come across any I'd love a "heads-up"! So here goes:

• Big Chain Grocery Stores --
  This one is I think is self-explanatory. Everyone has their favorite grocery store -- whether it's because it's close to home or has the best prices, or whatever. I mainly stick to Co-Op and Safeway because they're close to me. Here's some observations:
  • Safeway's great for those orange stickers that give you $1-$2+ off a package of meat. Dog-appropriate meat is generally on the high side without those stickers.
  • Co-Op generally has pretty good regular prices on things like meaty pork breast bones. Their organ meats and beef heart is a little pricey, but not so ridiculous it's not worth buying, especially when you have one of those "Shoot, I forgot to defrost anything and here I am at the store" evenings. Every once in a while they have sales on chicken quarters that make them worth buying as dog food.
  • I've been to Superstore a couple times for dog food. They have a pretty big meat section and you can find good deals if you look around.
  • There's a Real Canadian Warehouse (I think it's Real Canadian Warehouse -- it's some sort of warehouse) in the South East off of McLeod Tr. nearish to Heritage. I was expecting to find all sorts of great deals there on dog food, but I've been pretty disappointed the times I've been.
  
  
• Asian Markets --
  Ethnic markets generally have meats and cuts of meat that you don't find on the average North American dinner table. Here in Calgary I have found several good Asian markets where I go for pork and chicken -- whole items and organ meats. The prices are great, but do vary quite a bit from store to store, so it pays to pay attention to what you get and where.
  • Shun Fat International Supermarket -- 3215 17th Ave. SE
  • Lucky 97 Market -- 4527 8th Ave. SE
  
  
• The freezers of family and friends --
  Make sure your family, friends, and neighbors know that you raw feed. They don't have to know all the details, but it pays off when they finally decide to do some spring cleaning! Lots of folks will throw out meat if it is even slightly freezer burnt, or for just plain being in the freezer for too long. This meat might taste a little stale to us humans, but the dogs still seem to enjoy it. Just defrost it and cut off any freezer burnt parts. They will be much happier about getting a good steak than they will picky about it being a little dry!
  Knowing people who hunt is also a great place to get dog food. Ask for meaty bones and lesser cuts of meat from deer, elk, moose, or whatever else you might be lucky enough to get your hands on! Oh, and of course anything that is about to get bumped from the freezer to accommodate this season's quarry!
  
• Tailblazers --
  This natural pet food store has a variety of supplements, pre-made raw diets (good for "uh-oh" days when you forget to defrost something), raw feeding books, and other things like toys and treats. Find locations and other info at http://www.tailblazerspets.com.