Roger Marshall: “This week is pet week in our office, to celebrate our furry companions and the happiness they bring to our lives. In…”

“This week is pet week in our office, to celebrate our furry companions and the happiness they bring to our lives. In this spirit, this is an opportunity to recognize that the pet food industry is simply huge for Kansas. Pet food manufacturers in the animal health corridor stretching from Manhattan, Kansas, to Columbia, Missouri, and from Emporia, Kansas, to Omaha, Nebraska, account for more than half of all pet industry sales in the United States and provide thousands of jobs to Kansans. Many of our State's finest agriculture commodities go into our domestic animal food production network. As companion animal pet products gain a larger foothold in the overall food market, it is vital we continue to do all we can to capitalize on that growth and deliver high-paying new jobs for Kansas and encourage the development of the industry to not only benefit our farmers but all of Kansas. Aside from the obvious economic reasons to support the pet food industry in our State, there are genuine benefits of companion animals to humans. Pet ownership has grown for a reason. Many studies show that having a companion animal, a pet, in the home can reduce depression and blood pressure and provide other mental health benefits. Additionally, there is incredible work being done with companion animals for our military servicemembers when they return home suffering from PTSD and other mental and physical challenges.…”