Turning the dog/cat food bags inside out would cure the smell. They certainly would be strong. I've seen postal employees turn other bags inside out and return items for a customer.

It was in the news lately about handling dog and cat food by children which has made children sick with loose bowels. (It was also making some pets sick.) They said that it was found to have e-coli. So, if you use the dog and cat food bags, I would suggest that you first wipe it down with clorox to disinfect, then wipe with water to make sure you no longer have clorox which would take the color out of material. Then it would be safe to use and more than likely, the smell would be gone also.

Then you'll have to take a bath from turning the bag inside out. My dog food bags are paper on the outside and I am not sure how much messing around with they would take. Some of you people have entirely too much free time if you are washing dog food & cat food bags to save a little money. How about the dish liquid you are using to wash them, and the water, and worrying about them blowing away while drying.... Personally I would rather be quilting.

Our guild is having a class on making tote bags from the new
non-recycleable cat/dog/bird/horse food bags at our sept mtg. I plan to remove both ends, turn it wrong side out and scrub it to remove any residue or odor. The gal teaching us
has made some really neat bags using webbing for the handles. It's not as gross as you think.

My cousin down in Mississippi makes and sells jewelery, ect., and the small stuff, she makes envelopes out of paper grocery bags. She cuts the paper to look like an envelope and zig zags all around it to seal it.

YES! just tear out the plastic lining... that is where all of the smells are. the rest is perfectly good to use. :D

The bags I'm referring to are the new ones that do not have
a paper lining. They are plastic as opposed to paper.

I bet it does, if I ever used such a bag, that would be my thought, put it out in the sun for a couple of days to get rid of the smell.
Turning it inside out is a good one and of course I would wrap the quilt or whatever in plastic, perhaps place a couple of fabric softner sheets in the process.

I intend to give it a try.

You really don't have to stick your nose in the bag , just opening the first time kills me.

You can also make pet food bags in to totes. The pattern is on the internet. I don't remember where.
Wickn34