Conundrum!

Picture a beautiful little mutt-type dog, with big sad eyes peering up at you from behind shelter metal bars...

This image could make even Michael Vick cry, (ok, maybe not him, but you get the picture).

Enter Pedigree Dog Food. They have been around long enough (1957) that everyone knows the packaging and has been privy to their marketing tactics. Including 2007's Adoption Campaign and the Pedigree Foundation. Pedigree is owned by Mars, Inc. which also makes Nutro and Royal Canin dog food, Twix, Snickers, M&Ms...

I am a firm supporter in adoption and rescue, as well as reputable breeding. I am also a firm supporter in total lifetime health and how it directly coincides with wholesome nutrition. Which is why I don't eat a Twix bar as a daily meal.

Does this list look like wholesome nutrition that lends itself to total, lifetime canine health?
Ground yellow corn, meat and bone meal, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, animal fat (preserved with bha/bht), wheat mill run, natural poultry flavor, rice, salt, potassium chloride, caramel color, wheat flour, wheat gluten, vegetable oil, vitamins (choline chloride, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate [source of vitamin e], l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate [source of vitamin c*], vitamin a supplement, thiamine mononitrate [vitamin b1], biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement [vitamin b2], vitamin d3 supplement, vitamin b12 supplement), trace minerals (zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide).

According to DogFoodAnalysis.com:
This food receives a 1 star rating simply because there is nothing lower. Ouch!
(full review here)

Remember the 2007 Pet Food Recalls? Pedigree, Nutro and Royal Canine continue to be top contenders in recalls.

Tear jerking advertisements? Check.
Increase in sales? Check.
Creating a 'good will' image after pets died due to recalls? Check.
Convincing dog owners that Pedigree is wholesome nutrition? ...

I am truly all for shelter animals finding a place to call Forever Home, but I'd rather Mars/Pedigree spend their money making better dog food, making sure they have quality ingredients, and inspecting suppliers. Maybe even contributing money to independent dog food research. That would make them a truly great company.