A Dog Food Brand That Makes A Difference:

How DOG for DOG Is Giving Back

Hot Diggity Dog News: I was thrilled to meet Rocky Kanaka this year at BlogPaws and talk about his company DOG for DOG. Rocky is a charismatic entrepreneur who ran several pet stores in LA  (TheDog Bakery) before founding DOG for DOG in 2011.

We received a sample of the dry dog food and Kilo the Rescue Pug gave it a big “tongues up”. I used it as food and as treats for training (see our review of BlogPaws Treats). He seemed to like the size, taste and texture.

While participating in his pet store adoption days, Rocky saw that the number of dogs in shelters was growing and sadly, some dogs were suffering from a lack of proper nutrition. Too many dogs were still being euthanized, and many rescues and shelters were underfunded. He wanted to rally people to do something to help and thought about a buy one/give one model for treats.  Rocky started by hand-making the first DOGSBARs with The Dog Bakery General Manager and Head Dog Pastry Chef, Kelly Hannaford. He then developed his first batch of DOGSBUTTER, which was inspired by Fresh Made Peanut Butter at the Los Angeles Farmers Market (it contains no added sugar, salt, or hydrogenated oils).

People’s desire to help dogs in need while providing a tasty, healthy snack for own their dog caused the demand to grow. They expanded to a warehouse and built up a small team. In December of 2012, DOG for DOG made its first donation drop to Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue in Tehachapi, CA.

Adopting A Rescue Dog – Flip’s Story

One of Rocky’s defining moments was falling for and adopting his dog Flip in December of 2012, at this first DOG for DOG donation drop to Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue. Rocky founded DOG for DOG company to help dogs in need but says that meeting Flip helped him realize the true impact the company could have.

Flip was severely malnourished and had issues with his feet when he was picked up by the rescue. He had probably been forced to live in a cage that was too small for him. Days after Rocky adopted Flip, he fell very ill and was quickly diagnosed with Distemper, a potentially deadly viral disease found that can cause fever and coughing.  Distemper rendered Flip helpless to the point that the vet staff didn’t think he would make it. Rocky refused to give up on his boy. With his love and support, miraculously (and very slowly) Flip got better. Today Flip is a healthy and fun-loving dog that loves to snuggle with EVERYONE! Rocky saved Flip’s life and now, Flip runs for miles with Rocky and gives him the fuel to keep fighting to help dogs in need.

Company Mission

DOG for DOG is an all-natural dog food and treat company.

Their products are made in the USA from only top quality ingredients.

 

The company’s mission is to help shelter and rescue dogs in need. For every product they sell, an equal product is donated to a rescue or shelter. From all-natural dry dog food to delicious and innovative dog treats, whatever you buy, they donate.

They work closely with local and national animal shelters, as well as dog-friendly retailers, to make sure donated items are sent where they are needed.

Spreading The Word About DOG for DOG

DOG for DOG spreads the word through a network of volunteers and an online community committed to enhancing the life of man’s best friend. Major celebrities like Snoop Dog, Chelsea Handler, Michael Bublé  and Luisana Lopilato have also stepped in to help the cause.

Join The Conversation

DOG for DOG has a great blog and social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and Google +, that allow you to connect with other dog lovers and join the cause.

Television Series

To further help shelters by raising awareness and making them more sustainable, DOG for DOG has created a TV series. Catch the excitement on “Save Our Shelter“, starting October 3rd, 2015 on CW in association with Litton Entertainment. They plan to start with make-overs for 15 shelters across the US.

We were not compensated for this article, but we did receive a small sample of the Dry Dog Food to try.