America loves trends, and the latest one that is sweeping the nation involves dogs. In particular, it is an issue that pits service dogs against dogs who haven’t had such professional training and are claiming to be one. Fake service dogs are a trend that many businesses are finding has become increasingly popular. It’s also a trend that is causing undue stress to the many veterans who really do need service dogs to help them deal with such issues as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Many veterans benefit from having a trained service dog with them, if they suffer from issues such as PTSD,” explains Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue. “Yet they are now being faced with additional stress because of people who are creating a rash of fake service dogs, leaving businesses unsure which are really true service dogs.”

It was over 100 years ago that the beginnings of what would become the pet food industry began, according to the Pet Food Institute. It began with a commercially prepared dog biscuit in 1860, diversified to canned horse meat in the 1930s, and then to the expansion of dry commercial pet foods in the 1950s. Today, the commercial pet food has grown into a $21 billion per year industry, according to the American Pet Products Association. With all the advancements in pet foods, however, the nation’s pets are no healthier as a result.

“One would think that we have created an industry that cares for and nourishes our pets,” explains Will Post, president of Hound & Gatos Pet Food Corporation. “The reality, however, is that most of what people are purchasing isn’t healthy at all and can actually lead to health problems.”

After the drop in employment in 2008 after the stock market crash, the success of businesses are finally beginning to rise again. According to the United States Census Bureau, 111 million people are employed by both big and small businesses. Religion still plays a large role in the United States population and is integrated into businesses throughout the country. Within the United States alone, 220 million people affiliate themselves with a particular religion.

“The relationship between religion and business was bound to happen and did,” affirms Will Post, founder and CEO of Hound & Gatos Pet Food. Hound & Gatos is a religious-based pet food company; the Paleolithic diet company inscribes scripture (John 3:16) on sides and bottom all of their pet food cans. “A lot of people are unaware of the companies that are ‘faith-friendly’ or religious-based within the US.”