In Hollywood, a unique store called Just Food For Dogs is attracting pet owners who are looking to provide the best for their furry companions. The store’s shelves are stocked with gourmet, human-grade meals for dogs, with options like beef and russet potato, and venison with squash. It’s a far cry from traditional kibble, and for pet owners like Sarah Rector, it’s a way to ensure her French bulldog, Lulu, gets the healthiest ingredients possible.
“I feel better knowing she’s getting the best possible nutrition and overall wellness,” says Rector, who views her dogs as family despite not having children.
At first glance, the store’s concept may seem like an L.A. trend, but Just Food For Dogs president Carey Tischler believes it signals a shift in the $50 billion U.S. pet food industry. Research shows that 82% of pet owners now consider their pets as part of the family, up significantly in recent years.
Joe Ovalle, the store’s guest experience manager, emphasizes the quality of the food, noting that all of their recipes are approved by the USDA for human consumption. “It is human-grade food, something you and I could eat,” Ovalle says, happily tasting a fish and sweet potato dish.
While the cost of natural pet food can be twice that of traditional kibble, advocates argue it’s the healthiest choice for pets. Pet nutritionist Christine Filardi explains that feeding dogs fresh, whole foods is a return to what’s biologically appropriate for them. “For tens of thousands of years, dogs ate prey animals and table scraps,” she says.
Filardi, the author of Home Cooking For Your Dog, shares recipes for simple, balanced meals, combining animal protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. She believes whether pet food is purchased or home-cooked, it results in longer, healthier lives for dogs, lower vet bills, and happier pets—and owners.
Filardi sums it up: “They take such good care of us; we should take good care of them.”
For those interested, Just Food For Dogs is located in Hollywood, and Filardi’s cookbook, Home Cooking For Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes For a Healthier Dog, is available for purchase online.
Recipes for Your Dog:
- Hearty Hamburgers
- Friday Playdate Pizza
- Bacon and Cream Cheese Muffins
- Ground Turkey, Quinoa, and Carrots
For more information, visit Just Food For Dogs or check out Filardi’s cookbook available through major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
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