For any consumer mindful of health, food labels, ingredients, and nutritional guidelines are paramount considerations. But what about the food we provide to our pets? This pressing issue prompted Katie McCarron to investigate when her 14-year-old poodle, Rosie, began to refuse her kibble.
During a vet visit regarding Rosie’s dwindling appetite, the veterinarian ominously suggested that Rosie might only have six months left to live. Determined to maximize those last months, McCarron delved into the reasons behind her pet’s diminished appetite and was taken aback by her findings about pet food.
“I was horrified to discover the ingredients in pet food,” McCarron recalls, specifically mentioning rendered meat products. “Nothing that qualifies as fit for human consumption.”
This revelation disturbed McCarron, leading her to rethink how she fed her cherished pet. One evening in 2014, while preparing dinner for her family, she repurposed leftovers to cook up a bowl of beef and rice for Rosie. This meal not only rekindled Rosie’s appetite but also inspired McCarron to start the Portland Pet Food Company, which focuses on organic, human-grade food for pets.
“I want to ensure people know there are better alternatives,” McCarron shared, having seen Rosie thrive for an additional three years after switching to a diet consisting only of natural, human-grade ingredients.
Healthy Food, Healthy Earth
While Portland Pet Food Company’s primary mission is to enhance pets’ lives, it also prioritizes environmental sustainability. In 2016, McCarron transitioned from using frozen meals that needed dry ice and Styrofoam for shipping to more eco-friendly, shelf-stable, microwavable pouches. These can also be recycled through a partnership with TerraCycle.
Additionally, McCarron’s sustainable practices incorporate upcycling, which involves turning discarded materials into valuable products. By reusing spent grains from local breweries and eggshells from suppliers, Portland Pet Food Company creates a natural calcium source for its meals.
A company report from 2022 highlighted that over 68,000 pounds of ingredients were salvaged through upcycling initiatives that year. McCarron estimates that this figure has more than doubled in 2024.
Now, McCarron has no qualms regarding the food her pets consume. For pet owners still questioning the quality of pet food, she offers this advice: “If you can’t pronounce it and don’t understand what it is, why would you give it to your best friend?”
Wagster Treats
When Wagster Treats claims that their vegan baked cookies are life-changing, it’s not solely in reference to the dogs who enjoy them; it’s also about providing hope to low-income and homeless adults—the bakers of these treats.
The journey into the Wagster Treats kitchen begins with the Fresh Starts Culinary Academy, a program run by Homeward Bound of Marin, a nonprofit dedicated to homeless support and job training in Marin County, California.
This 12-week training course, which would cost $10,000 but is offered free to participants within Homeward Bound, equips individuals with culinary skills to enhance their employment opportunities and assist them in regaining stability.
“Our objective is to empower individuals to achieve stability and independence,” explains Sallie Miller, director of social enterprise at Homeward Bound. “If you were to walk into our Wagster Treats kitchen today, you would find a small but powerful dog treat bakery.”
Purposeful Baking
Within the Wagster Treats kitchen, bakers combine straightforward ingredients such as peanut butter, oats, molasses, and apples to create human-grade treats shaped like dog bones. These treats are packaged in vibrant green bags and distributed to stores like Whole Foods throughout Northern California and shipped across the nation.
Since its initiation in 2015, all profits from Wagster Treats have been reinvested into Homeward Bound of Marin to support ongoing job training programs. “Being part of such a meaningful mission feels like an extraordinary blessing,” says Miller.
As Homeward Bound of Marin marks its 50th anniversary this year, they also announce exciting plans for current and future Wagster Treats bakers, as a new, larger production facility will be operational in 2025.
This article first appeared in the November-December 2024 issue of Intomodel magazine (US edition).
