DINING FOR DOGS... OUR STORY


"Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event
can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that
serves us-- and those around us-- more effectively."

-Eric Allenbaugh, American Author of Wake-Up Calls


Dining for Dogs was born from the sad, untimely death of my beloved dog, Indy, at the age of seven.
He was diagnosed with cancer two days after I brought home a German Shepherd puppy named Naaki
to be his companion. Indy quickly lost his appetite, and the vet gave him less than a week to live.

I had been taught that ”people food” wasn’t good for dogs, so I had always fed Indy one of the top-rated
commercial dog foods. I decided, since he was dying, to make his last days as happy as possible. I started
making homemade food for him and was surprised at how quickly his appetite returned. He suddenly had the
energy to get up and go outside, or follow family members around the house and yard. Indy had always been
a smiler, and even his wonderful smile returned. He lived two weeks longer than the vet thought he would,
and passed away very peacefully.

Naaki was used to the homemade food, so I continued to make it for her. I started researching what dogs
should eat and was shocked to find out what went into most pet foods. You can see the results of my
research HERE. I was determined, from that point on, to educate myself about good foods for dogs.

I decided to get Naaki a boyfriend in December of 2006. That is when Kota, our new Doberman, joined the
Blake family. Kota was severely underweight when he came to us, so much so that his ribs and spine stuck
out alarmingly. He also had severe dandruff. The dandruff was gone after three days on his new, homemade
food, and he started to fill out quickly. All of my friends who had seen Kota when he first arrived were amazed
at his transformation. They started to ask me about the food I made for Naaki and Kota, and asked for
samples to take home to their own dogs.

It wasn’t very long until the demand for homemade dog food picked up, and I was faced with a monumental
decision. It is a very time-consuming process to make healthy, nutritious, cost-effective homemade dog food.
Shopping, preparing, cooking, packaging, clean-up... it’s a huge commitment. I knew I might have to quit my
job if I was going to continue. Then fate stepped in with the sad, tragic news that helped me make the
decision to move forward with Dining for Dogs.

Pet food recalls were trumpeted on the news, one after another. The demand for my homemade dog food
increased with each recall as more and more people searched for a healthy alternative. Clients began asking
if I could broaden my menu, expand on my treats, and even make desserts. That was the defining moment
for me. I began making Dining for Dogs my full time commitment and I haven’t regretted it since.

Dining for Dogs is more than a business to me... much more. It’s a way of reaching out into my community,
of providing what I have learned as a much-needed service. The dog owners that I know, that I’ve met, would
all like to make their own homemade dog food, they just don’t have the time. That’s why Dining for Dogs
exists: to not only provide your canine companions with healthy, nutritious food, but also to provide you with
the quality of time to spend with them and the peace of mind in knowing that they’re eating right.

Indy changed my life in ways I could never have dreamed. This business is dedicated to him.


-Cherish Blake, Dining for Dogs Founder