We're Famous!

Well, not quite famous, but a story about DogTown Lounge was published on page 27 in Belle Magazine in November, 2011, complete with a photo of the author's dog munching on a dried chicken foot. I'm thrilled at the publicity and quite grateful for the exposure. Some customers have had questions which seem to indicate that a bit of clarification is needed, so here are a few, in order of appearance in the article:


None of the jerky treats made here in DogTown are freeze-dried. Instead, all fresh raw meat treats are air-dried in the large mobile dehydrator I designed and built, primarily from thrifted and recycled materials, with temperatures tightly controlled by a microprocessor with a thermal sensor. An informal poll on Facebook for naming suggestions resulted in two - "Mrs. Robinson" and "The Dryalata." Mrs. Robinson's Dryalata is full of feet right now...

Canine visitors to the farmer's market booth are offered Dried Chicken Fingers, not feet, and unless the dog is a regular, I always ask permission first.  Some dogs are allergic to chicken, others belong to folks who worry about their weight, and a few are required to lead their lives as vegetarians instead of carnivores, so I always try to check with their humans. Dogs tend to have a positive opinion about treats, and some of them even lie without hesitation when chicken jerky is offered. Shamelessly! 

The abused, starved dog I adopted in 2003 is Annie, who is most definitely a girl. She is the reason for everything I have done since then.

Canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) or pureed squash can provide a gentle means of settling a distressed digestive system, and are often given as a first meal to rescued pups. It can also be used as a tummy-filler when switching a dog from a commercial, grain-based diet to raw meat, which has much higher nutritional value and consequently requires lower meal volume. Dogs can only digest fruit and vegetables when cooked or shredded finely, and whole grains when boiled to a soft gruel. Whole leg quarters make an easy, satisfying and cost-effective meal for a dog, especially if organ meats also make up a part of their weekly menu. Please do check the feeding calculator for suggested meal sizes.

I don't normally recommend or offer supplements, since I firmly believe in meeting nutritional needs through a species-appropriate, highly digestible and bio-available diet, but certainly if your pet is ill or aging, some supplemental oils, amino acids or pro-biotics may be in order.  Spike's Chicken Salad contains ample taurine and other essential nutrients to provide a good basic diet for cats, smaller dogs and aging pets, or as a variety meal for larger dogs. Charley Chow is an excellent main dish for all dogs, and some cats find it quite delicious too. All dogs benefit from access to whole raw bones, for teeth-cleaning, to satisfy their need to gnaw, and in their digestive systems as humans use fiber. Remember the simple rule: raw bones good, cooked bones bad! 

Hope that all clears up any misunderstandings, and perhaps serves as a bit of an introduction for those who are new to this blog.  Please do check out the November edition of Belle online, and look for the December issue at local shops and restaurants around town. 

There are a few new photos added to the slideshow on the sidebar, which are viewable in larger size by clicking the image to open up the connected gallery on Picasa.

If you have any questions, would like to talk about your pet's diet, or to find out if your dog will sit for Dried Chicken Fingers, please stop by the DogTown Lounge booth at the Winter Market on the playground lot at Patrick Henry School, 3411 Semmes Ave in Richmond, from 10 - 12 every Saturday until May. You can also find DogTown Lounge products in the corner of the Faith Farms booth on Tuesdays from 3 - dark, at the Byrd House Market, all year round.