FAQs

F • A • Qs

What is SoCal BARF?

SoCal BARF is an educational group interested in fostering and promoting the health of our companion animals through raw feeding. Providing the raw products is an adjunct activity.

SoCal BARF began in August 2001 before any distinction was made between what has become known as prey model and the original BARF diet. Our members may define themselves in a particular school but SoCal BARF does not align itself with any following, accepting all forms of raw feeding as chosen by our individual members. Our decision to keep BARF as part of our name was made to retain our online presence and recognition as SoCal BARF among our members and the national raw feeding community.

Each member is assessed a $5 monthly fee that is paid with any order. Our educational programs include Sunday seminars in the Southland and a seminar opportunities for our Northern California members included Richard Pitcairn, DVM and Kymythy Schultze.

What educational programs are offered?

Each member is assessed a $5 monthly fee that is paid with any order. We sponsored our first seminar on March 20, 2004, with Stephen Blake, DVM as our luncheon speaker, who addressed issues surrounding vaccinations. Featured session speakers included Julie Hamilton from the Whispering Winds Wholistic Animal Sanctuary; Kelly Milam, Sonya Lee, and Laila DelMonte from the Sante D'Or Foundation; Lita Caesar from Four Paws and More; and SoCal BARF members Randye DeLorto, Pamela Moore, and Laura Atkinson. Our second seminar was held on Sunday, November 21, 2004, and featured Sara Skiwski, DVM in Burbank. Odette Suter was our featured speaker on April 11th, 2005, in La Mesa. On August 21 Dr Jean Dodds presented a seminar held in Marina del Rey. First Aid classes sponsored by the Red Cross were offered to San Diego, Phoenix, Reno, Claremont and Santa Monica area members in the spring and summer of 2006. Opportunities in 2007 included Michael Pollan lectures in Newport Beach and San Diego. Also offered were poultry and chicken slaughtering in the High Desert and a Pet First Aid class by Esther Horn held in Rancho Cucamonga. In 2008 members met in Industry for a canine nutrition discussion in January and on August 9 and 10 Kymythy Schultze was our guest speaker at Pomona College in Claremont. In August of 2009 member met to hear Christie Keith at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson.

Besides offering educational programs to our members, SoCal BARF also is involved in educating others about raw feeding. Our group was featured on NPR’s Day to Day as well as Creature Comforts’ April 2009 column by Kim Thornton at msnbc.com. SoCal BARF also addresses professional and community organizations that included the Inland Valley Veterinary Technician Association. Members are encouraged to become part of our Speakers Bureau to talk about raw feeding with those who ask us to provide information.

What products are available? How much do they cost?

We now offer a wide range of products that meet the dietary requirements of all raw feeders. Prices fluctuate with the market and season but generally run about .34/lb for chicken backs and necks and $0.44 - $0.76/lb for turkey necks. You can see what is available for each month on the order page. Current pricing information is available throughout the month but the Shopping Cart is updated immediately before opening for orders. The RMBs are available only in case quantities that range from 30 - 40/lbs, and sometimes as many as 72/lbs. Chicken offal is usually purchased in 5 or 10/lb increments and fish is most often available in 10/lb increments. The fish that we offer is frozen, either in pieces or whole. We do not provide any canned fish, preferring to offer the best possible raw products to our members. Cases are generally delivered frozen from the suppliers, and any cases that arrive fresh are frozen upon delivery. SoCal BARF does not provide any fresh, unfrozen products.

Who can join?

SoCal BARF is open to members who support biologically appropriate raw food and understand the need to contribute to its workings and who abide by the rules in place. Beyond that, everyone needs to cooperate in delivery and pick-up by reading invoices and labels carefully and picking up only what has been ordered.

We try to be responsive to the needs of our members and ask that members be responsible to the extent possible for their orders and payments and the needs of the entire group.

How do I join?

You join our group by placing your first order. Check the Calendar page to see when orders open. You must also choose a pick up site where your order will be delivered. These sites are listed on the PickUp link. Contact the site host and provide your contact information and become familiar with the expectations of the site. Members are charged a yearly fee that pays for our cold storage expenses. This fee is assessed from January through September and is due again the following January or the first order of the new year. Members who join between October and December are not assessed the yearly fee until January two years away.

ALL SoCal BARF members must volunteer at least once a year. We no longer offer non-volunteer pricing. When placing your first order, contact socalbarfvolunteers@gmail.com to volunteer. You can choose to drive for your site, work at the cold storage or office, or complete invoices. All cold storage volunteers must be able to lift and carry at least 40/lbs. If you are using work at the cold storage to fulfill your volunteer commitment, you are expected to stay until the end of the day. If you are scheduled to work at distribution but unable to do so, do NOT send a substitute. We have a waiting list of volunteers to fill vacancies. Please note that if a member is not a “good fit” for working at distribution, future help will be declined. If your site requires all members to drive, check the Calendar to see which month is open. SoCal BARF will not assign a job.

What do new members need to do?

New members are always welcome. You are encouraged to post questions on the Message Board where our members are very helpful in giving recommendations and sharing experiences. You also need to contact your site host to let her/him know that you are new and that an order will be arriving for you. You must get the address and contact information for the host as well as provide yours. This should be done well before delivery so that you have plenty of time for a response. Many of the hosts have guidelines for pick up and will share those with you. Check to see if the site has an Information link that may have additional requirements, including driving, for its members.

All members must download, sign, and mail or fax Disclaimer, Assurance, Terms of Service, and Privacy Notice and the Site Indemnification forms linked at the bottom of this page. Orders will be held until the completed forms are received.

You are strongly encouraged to read all the FAQs and look at the Calendar and Message Board each month before and after distribution. The Message Board contains information particular to any problems we are having. Sites are not generally designed to accommodate large orders and members should check with both the site host and socalbarf@gmail.com to see if an order will be in the site delivery or available for pick up at the cold storage facility.

New Member Check List

• Place an order and include both the yearly and education fees

• Download and mail/fax waivers

• Contact site host

• Schedule volunteering

What are the responsibilities of each member?

SoCal BARF relies on the members to do the work of distributing the monthly orders. We need volunteers to breakdown the cases of fish, pick up from suppliers, sort inventory, work the locker, build pallets, host the delivery sites, write invoices, and drive the routes. There is something for everyone to do and everyone needs to pitch in to do the work.

The driver coordinator can be contacted at socalbarfdrivers@gmail.com. To volunteer for invoices or working at the locker, please contact Pat at socalbarf@gmail.com. Office work that includes data entry, account reconciliation, record maintenance, filing can also be done at our office space at 813 N D St, Suite A, San Bernardino 92401. Please check with Pat for office hours and email socalbarfvolunteers@gmail.com to volunteer.

Each member is responsible for reading and understanding the FAQs. Additionally, each member is responsible for the accuracy and completion of an order and verifying that payment is sent. The Shopping Cart automatically forwards a copy of your order. If you do not receive a copy, an error has occurred that you need to explore. You are able to access copies of your orders at the Shopping Cart.

At no time may any member take any action that incurs debt for SoCal BARF. This includes failing to pay for any order, not paying any additional charges for catchweight products, or not returning items for which a refund was given. We do not make refunds if a member is dissatisfied with a product. Searching the Message Board for discussions about products will answer questions about unfamiliar items that are available in the Shopping Cart. Any product that is returned or for which a refund is requested must be in its original packaging, in its full poundage, and frozen.

Any exchanges/sales between members are between the members and are not to involve SoCal BARF for credits or charges. SoCal BARF is not responsible for any losses that occur at the site. Our responsibility for any order ends when it leaves the cold storage facility.

SoCal BARF will not accept the return of any product compromised by travel or failure to provide coolers or insulated boxes. Rarely, products purchased through SoCal BARF have been recalled by the vendor and/or FDA or USDA. Members who receive a notice that a product has been recalled must immediately cease use of the product and return the product so that it may be disposed of and accounted for according to FDA, USDA or State of California Health Department guidelines. To facilitate identifying products, you should make note of lot numbers and/or remove and retain the case tags.

All shortages and errors MUST be reported to the site host BEFORE leaving the site. Please take the time to check the order carefully. SoCal BARF is not responsible for shortages not reported to the site host on distribution days and not contained in the site report.

Any request to change delivery site after orders close must be made with the site hosts and drivers. SoCal BARF staff do not make any changes at distribution and loads the order on the originating site’s pallet. Drivers must designate their site and distribution volunteers indicate POM as their PickUp site.

We may have non-staffed delivery sites and each member is to take only what has been placed in the stack with your delivery invoice. Any shortage is to be noted on the invoice. You may not take from another order to complete or add to your order. You risk losing buying privileges if you do so.

If a site does not send a driver, orders are held for the following month. Individuals can no longer pick up at the cold storage facility. No refunds or credits will be given since the product has been purchased and is ready for distribution. We will not send orders to a nearby site for pick up since each site is designed to accommodate its members and often cannot safely transport any increase in poundage. Each site member will be charged a $5 storage fee when the orders are left at the cold storage for the following month's distribution.

Site hosts are responsible for verifying the accuracy of the delivery and each individual order. Shortages and poundage for catch weight items are noted on the invoices and emailed to socalbarf@gmail.com by the site host. Refunds are made when the shortage results from a supplier's inability to fill our order or because of distribution errors. Often a product is available in “catchweight” and the weight delivered may be more or less than the weight ordered. We refund under weight and bill over weight orders. SoCal BARF does not issue a credit to be used the following month unless the refund amount is under $10. Questions should be directed to the host if any problem occurs.

We reserve the right to refuse service to, and to terminate the membership of any member, for any reason at our sole discretion. Reasons we may refuse service or terminate membership include, but are not limited to, any action or conduct on the part of a member that is harmful to our interests or any action or conduct that jeopardizes a safe, functional, and trusted environment that mutually benefits the membership and SoCal BARF. Bringing a dog to the distribution facility will result in permanent, non-negotiable termination of membership.

What does the site host do?

Many of the site hosts have a long-standing commitment to SoCal BARF and without their knowledge and experience, we would have more problems than we do. They are most familiar with the members and work with them in getting accurate and complete orders.

Some areas where we encounter difficulties that site hosts assist with:

(1) The inventory sheets are delivered with the driver and stay at the site. Those are the sheets that we use to load the trucks. Some errors may occur and there can be discrepancies between the inventory sheets and the invoices that should have been corrected/reconciled by the drivers at the cold storage. Note the shortages on the invoice and inventory sheets. Email socalbarf@gmail.com the status of the delivery as soon as possible even if there are no errors to report. Individuals should not have to do this.

(2) Stack each individual order and put the person's invoice on the stack. We have problems with people getting beef neck bones when they should have received beef bones or the opposite. We have people get lean beef when they ordered beef neck. These are site errors.

(3) Not all people are capable of assisting with stacking at the sites. Please be firm that they do not help since they create problems.

(4) Most of the drivers are very helpful in getting accurate orders. They are to check the site members' invoices against the inventory sheets before loading at the cold storage facility and correct any discrepancies.

(5) Use the inventory sheets to see who ordered what in resolving site problems. Orders should be checked and re-checked and members should report the problems first to the host since an exchange will often resolve the problem.

(6) When a case comes that no one ordered, please email socalbarf@gmail.com. Sometimes this is a case that needs to go to someone at another nearby site. They need the opportunity to get the case before it goes up for sale at the site.

(7) Invoices are sent to the sites to be used for sorting individual orders and are to be given to the members when they pick up their orders. It should have any shortages/overages noted, the poundage of any catch weight products, and the name of the person who built the order. An invoice may be missing or inaccurate. The drivers are to correct any problems at the cold storage by consulting the order book.

Please let us know how we can make this easier at your end. You are most familiar with what problems occur and what we can do at the locker to eliminate them. Revised inventory sheets and a larger shopping cart will help. Re-marking cases will also eliminate some problems. Any additional suggestions are welcome.

What are the drivers' responsibilities?

Most of us are not involved in trucking or warehouse distribution, but those are the hats you are wearing as a driver. You will be transporting product just as the trucks that pass you on the freeway are doing. You will be checking the accuracy of the inventory sheets used to pull the products for your site and then verifying that the site pallet reflects what the members have ordered. Because of the dangers in the trucking industry and warehouse distribution, both are highly regulated to ensure worker safety. SoCal BARF enforces the safety rules of Cal-OSHA since we are bound by them as workers at a cold storage/distribution warehouse. We are volunteers, but we are also on the premises of a facility strictly regulated to ensure worker safety and we are bound to follow safety rules.

Sites without a driver or a driver change after the Sunday evening at 7 pm before distribution will build site pallets.

Drivers begin arriving at the cold storage one half hour before their loading time. We need additional sorters and workers when the facility opens, so drivers are encouraged to arrive at 6:00 am but no later than 7 am to help. Drivers who cannot help (or those arriving after we have begun sorting) should park in the front lot and begin checking in. All drivers must arrive no later than 30 minutes before the site’s loading time. Check in at the front office. Please get your site envelope and check the invoices against the inventory sheets. Any discrepancies need to be resolved by using the order book. You may want to bring reading material and a chair to make your wait more enjoyable.

Locker workers will build site pallets for any drivers working at distribution or those who have volunteered within the last year. Those drivers who have not volunteered will build their own pallets. Drivers will walk in when called to verify the accuracy of the site order. Any shortages/overages must be noted and corrected at this time. The inventory sheets will reflect the actual product and count taken by the driver with no additional shortages accepted at the sites. The driver will then bring in the vehicle and load. Locker workers will not assist in loading the vehicle except when necessary or if time permits.

Do NOT enter the work area until your site is called.

Also, please work with the site host to inventory and stack individual orders. You are in the position to know what, if any, difficulties we may be having. If there are overages at your site, please ask the site host to email socalbarf@gmail.com immediately before offering the "extras" for sale at the site. A nearby site may have shortages where these orders are needed.

The brown envelope that you get has individual orders (invoices) and site inventory sheets. All are to be left with the site host so that he/she can make the site report and assist with discrepancies.

Wear sensible shoes (enclosed foot and rubber soles). Persons with open foot sandals will not be permitted in the loading/work area. Please bring water, especially if we are in our hotter months of the year. Drivers should also bring any necessary tie-downs and protective covering. Restroom facilities are available and must be left in clean condition.

Drivers should empty their vehicles of any crates, dog show equipment, or other materials to facilitate loading. Children (those under 18 years of age) are not permitted in the work/loading area at the cold storage.

No dogs, either crated or loose in vehicles, may be brought to any location, including the waiting area for drivers at the cold storage facility. Any vehicles with dogs will be immediately dismissed from the property and the driver and passenger(s) will be terminated from SoCal BARF membership. This will pose a problem with site orders unless an alternate driver is found. Equipment other than that provided by the driver is not available for assisting in transporting the order.

The cold storage facility is located on private property and BEL/CO and/or SoCal BARF, either together or individually, reserve(s) the right to revoke permission to enter the property including all parking areas to any person or persons. Revocation will result if a member brings any dog(s), refuses to follow safety rules, fails to abide by the assurances and indemnification, or enters the work area without authorization.

Members should regard both the cold storage facility and the site hosts' residences as work areas with work place safety paramount. Members are discouraged from bringing dogs to any site. Dogs are prohibited at the cold storage facility and by many hosts at the sites. The cold storage has operating forklifts and pallet jacks with workers carrying cases and maneuvering around pallets filled with cases of varying weights and products. Members are responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.

Please note effective July 2010 drivers must be able to carry their individual average poundage times the number of times they drive in a year. If a member drives once and orders an average of 250 lbs, the driver must carry 3000 lbs. If the member drives twice, the load is a minimum of 1500 lbs. This requirement is a response to develop equity among site members, especially at those sites where there are both very large and small orders and all members are required to drive. This does not replace any site’s requirement that a driver must carry the entire order. At a minimum, however, each vehicle must carry the payload specified by the manufacturer.

An email message is sent to site drivers shortly before distribution. Read it carefully.

In general, how does it work?

Each month we post the Order page with updated costs and products. We try to keep it as simple as possible. After you place your order, you will receive an invoice to pay either using your checking account or credit card. Those who wish to pay by credit/debit card need to email a request for an invoice to socalbarf@gmail.com. Payment is made through Google.

Then on the day of distribution, members go to the pick-up site designated when ordering.

Each member is responsible for completing all steps in the Shopping Cart and providing an accurate email address. Mail that bounces because of incorrect emails or full mail boxes will not necessarily be re-sent.

We are one of the few raw feeding advocate groups in the country that offer group buying with organized, scattered delivery points. No one is connected with farming, ranching, or the meat/poultry business. Most of us hold full-time jobs and work together for the benefit of all. We keep prices down by buying together and sharing in the work that is needed to keep us successful.

What happens if it is raining?

We have encountered two very rainy delivery days and much discussion followed whether we would distribute under such conditions again. We would postpone delivery if the rain is intense enough to pose a safety hazard to our drivers and locker workers or damage the product. If you question whether delivery will occur because of weather, please contact your site host.

How do I help?

Every member should look at the needs of the group to see how you can contribute. If you have an area of expertise and would like to participate as a speaker/presenter in our education programs, please contact Pat. We always need assistance with distribution and loading and unloading at the locker and sites. The Calendar lists the dates several months in advance so that volunteers can plan around delivery dates.

How do I contact SoCal BARF?

Members are encouraged to work through their site hosts with any distribution problems. All other communication is conducted through email to socalbarf@gmail.com. Mail is sent to Pat Puckett, PO Box 90488, San Bernardino CA 92427. If you need verification that mail has been received, you will need to send with "Delivery Confirmation" available through USPS. Telephone contact is reserved for our suppliers and site hosts with immediate problems.

Legal Disclaimer: SoCal BARF recommends that you consult your veterinary professional before starting your pet on the raw diet, especially if you have a special needs companion animal. All of our products, with the exception of those indicated for pet/animal consumption only, are USDA/USDC inspected products with safe handling instructions on the cases. The use of these products outside these guidelines established by federal and state standards is the sole and separate responsibility of the member. SoCal BARF accepts no liability or responsibility for these uses.

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless SoCal BARF and its respective members, service providers, and suppliers from and against all claims and expenses, including attorneys' fees, arising out of your use of any product or service.

SoCal BARF is not responsible for any website malfunction that deprives a member of any goods or services. The SoCal BARF website contains links to other web sites and resources. SoCal BARF is not responsible for the availability of these external sites nor does it endorse, or is it responsible for, the aesthetics, appeal, suitability to taste or subjective quality of informational content, products or other materials made available on or through such external sites. Under no circumstances shall SoCal BARF or any of the providers be held responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any loss or damage caused or alleged to have been caused to you in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services available on such external site. You should direct any concerns to such external site's administrator or webmaster.

Assurance: As an Unincorporated Nonprofit Association, SoCal BARF functions pursuant to California Corporations Code Section 21000 and 21300. As such, members may not use any benefit for pecuniary profit (re-sale) nor may members share any benefit with non-members. Members who share the resources with others will lose all membership privileges.

Terms of Service: We reserve the right to refuse service to, and to terminate the membership of any person, for any reason at our sole discretion. Reasons we may refuse service or terminate membership include, but are not limited to, any action or conduct on the part of a member that is harmful to our interests or any action or conduct that jeopardizes a safe, functional, and trusted environment that mutually benefits the membership and SoCal BARF. Bringing a dog to the distribution facility will result in permanent, non-negotiable termination of membership. Failure to abide by the safety regulations established for the workers and drivers at the cold storage will terminate your access to the property at the facility.

Privacy Statement: Protecting your privacy is important to SoCal BARF and we keep your personal information confidential. SoCal BARF, as an online resource, transacts with its members electronically. When you sign up for any SoCal BARF service or product, you consent to receive electronically from SoCal BARF notices, agreements, disclosures, reports, documents, communications, or other records. You agree that SoCal BARF can send you electronic notices in either or both of the following ways: (1) to the Message Board linked through the website, or (2) to the email address(es) that you provided to SoCal BARF. The delivery of any notice from SoCal BARF is effective when sent, regardless of whether you read the communication when you receive it or whether you actually receive the delivery. Your only method of withdrawing consent to receive notices electronically is to terminate your membership or to have your membership terminated by SoCal BARF.

We collect and store your personal information you provide in a database for our use only. We make every effort to preserve your privacy; however, we may need to disclose personal information when required to assist the site hosts or when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is required to comply with a current judicial proceeding, criminal investigation, court order, or legal process served on SoCal BARF. We may also share your personal information if we believe it is necessary in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, violations of SoCalBARF's assurances, or as otherwise required by law.

All members are required to have on file the waivers linked below before any order is sent to a site.

Download, sign and mail/fax BOTH copies:

HTML link for SoCal BARF Disclaimer, Assurance, Terms of Service, and Privacy Notice

HTML link for SoCal BARF Site Agreement