Just Food for Dogs, a pet restaurant that originated in California with over seven stores on the coast, is now opening its 8th store in Manhattan, making it the first in New York.
Organic trend reaches pets
Burgeoning food awareness is not exclusive to humans alone, as people ask themselves what goes in their food, dedicated pet owners ask the same thing about their animals. Granted, the organic lifestyle does have its perks with freshness and no harsh chemicals but it is nevertheless pricier than normal food. The same thing goes for pets. One San-Fransisco based organic pet food kitchen servings cost about US$3.80 for dog food and US$2.80 for cats.
A can of dog and cat food won't even pass a dollar.
However, pet owners are asking themselves if serving canned food that lasts long on the shelves are much better than giving the best and freshest food for their pets.
Just Food for Dogs brand now in Manhattan
The California-based brand Just Food for Dogs is about to open in Union Square, Manhattan. This branch is in collaboration with Petco, an American pet store. Not only will their pets have the best and fresh food, but they also have a live show in front of them. The restaurant will prepare about 2,000 pounds of food each day, which will then go straight to the aisles itself. This kitchen serves high-quality, human-grade pet produce.
Just Food for Dogs is the first of its kind to open in New York and with the growing pet food industry is surely not going to be the last.
The organic lifestyle for canines and felines is still catching on.
An expensive trend
The pet food industry jumped 70 percent up since 2015, almost reaching US$500 million according to data company Nielsen. This food trend may come in a good place with owners being genuinely worried about their pets' health. However, the price of a venison and squash dish alone from Just For Food Dogs is US$11.
The produce provided by such companies are food grade and also comes from supermarket shelves, that is why many people are sceptical.
Some of the skeptics are highly trained in fields concerning animal health. Veterinarians question the idea of serving pets with human-quality food. Lindsey Bullen, a pet nutritionist working with the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas (VSH) explains that it isn't the fresh state that is the problem.
The question is if these proportions provide the essential nutrients required by the animals. The problems that arise from this may not be obvious for a month or even a year. Though this can be solved by giving proper proportions, Bullen believes it is best to add supplements to their diet in order to meet the needs that are not met by the servings.
How dogs and cats feel about this, no one knows for sure.
