Meet Barry, A New Upper West Sider Looking for a Good Meal – westsiderag.com

By Scott Etkin
The past year has been great for Barry. He went from living on his own in Montana to being taken in by a new family on the Upper West Side. He’s already made some friends in the neighborhood, and even though he lives rent free he feels no pressure to find a job.
Now is a good time to mention that Barry is a dog – a “super-mutt” rescue who still has plenty of puppy energy.
So, could Barry’s life get much better? If you asked someone at Just Food For Dogs – now in its soft opening on the corner of 70th Street and Broadway – they would say, yes, Barry’s diet could use an upgrade.
The company’s sales pitch is that fresh, high-quality food will improve your dog’s health and longevity. The meals at Just Food For Dogs are “human-grade,” said Richard Wold, senior vice president of retail operations & development, and formulated through an evidence-based approach, meaning they are put through feeding trials to determine the health benefits.

Barry, like me, is highly food motivated, so we stopped by the new store on 70th Street this past Wednesday. The space, which used to be an HSBC, has large refrigerators and a long display case like what you’d see in a deli. Behind the counter are stoves that will be used to prepare the dog food on-site, as well as two walk-in freezers. The shelves below the windows are lined with shelf-stable, individual meals that are geared toward traveling.
A pet nutritionist, who was on-hand to help customers find the right formula for their dog, offered Barry a treat. “Does he eat chicken?”
Barry will eat any semi-edible substance found on the sidewalk. I answered in the affirmative.
On a table were jars of other dehydrated foods. Richard gave us a sweet potato chip. I broke off a piece for Barry and ate the rest myself. It tasted like an unsalted Terra chip.
Joe, a brand ambassador for Just Food For Dogs, explained that kibble from the traditional dog food companies like Alpo are basically all the same. Only eating dry dog food would be like if we lived only on cereal, he said. “You can survive on it, but you’re not going to thrive.”
Traditional dry food is cooked at high temperatures so that it turns into a pellet, then vitamins are added back in. Just Food For Dogs lightly cooks the food and then freezes it, so a week’s worth of food for a mid-sized dog comes as four large frozen rectangles.
The pet nutritionists at Just Food For Dogs aren’t vets – they go through training with the company in order to make recommendations to pet parents. Joe asked about Barry’s “story” and also about his breed, age, what we feed him and if he has any allergies.
Richard said that many customers who come into Just Food For Dogs’ stores are looking to have a debate about one type of diet over another. Others are pet parents whose dog is sick or has a complication. Dogs with heart and kidney conditions are common, he said. For complex cases, the pet nutritionist will call the dog’s vet to discuss their recommendation.
As you might expect, Just Food For Dogs is more expensive than the traditional kibble options. A 23.6 lbs box of Just Food For Dog’s Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni formula, which was recommended for Barry when I filled out the Feeding Calculator survey online, is $177 ($6.34 per day). On Amazon, a 22 lbs bag of Homestead Turkey & Ancient Grains from Open Farm, the brand we’ve been using, costs $74. A 27.5 lb bag of Turkey and Venison from Purina One costs $31.
I’m no Cesar Millan, but Barry seems pretty healthy to me as it is. Richard said that making the switch would pay off with fewer vet bills over time, though I’m still unsure if a more natural diet is worth the extra scratch.

Barry, having exhausted himself from badgering the pet nutritionists, lay prone on the floor. If I’m lucky, maybe one day I’ll be reincarnated as him.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
They’ll charge whatever people are willing to pay.
Please adopt rescued animals. The numbers of abandoned pets has gone waaay up!
Nice job by the author to gently call out the absolute woo that is this business.
What are the prices? Are we taking Cafe Luxembourg, Arte or McDonald’s?
It’s a shame that people are not as concerned about their fellow humans who go hungry, both in the U.S. and worldwide.
It’s not a zero sum game. I care about what my dogs eat and also donate to charities that address food insecurity, including local ones like West Side Campaign Against Hunger. And, based on your premise, I’m assuming if the article were about children, would that mean people don’t care about the elderly?
After listening to this Science Vs episode last year, I’m really skeptical of feeding my dog anything other than traditional dog food. https://gimletmedia.com/amp/shows/science-vs/v4h9wo5
Thank you for that link. Good listening:)
I switched to Farmers Dog over a year ago and my 12 yo rescue Doxie Beagle mix is thriving. Her energy is amazing. Her geriatric Blood panel during her annual physical showed perfect lab results. I can see the difference. There really is nothing like food that has been prepared and has amazing nutrients. If I add up all the money I spend on dog food previously, it’s not much more and I feel so good about giving my dog exceptional food. It’s not about being suckered into buying expensive food, its for my dogs well being. Anyone who thinks this is silly well, that’s your problem.
Great use of a former HSBC! My picky 16 y/o Shih Tzu rescue does NOT take well to a change in diet! At 16, she’s still thriving ( and scouring the buffet on Amsterdam avenue!).
During the pandemic, the brand of dog food my 14 year old Lab-Newfie mix and her companion a 15 year old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (adopted each at 1 year old) wasn’t available. I admit freely and without reservation that I purchased extra lean ground beef and mixed vegetables and cooked their food myself. Despite the arthritis that plagues humans and canines, they are otherwise healthy dogs and enjoy a good quality of life. Our canine companions are loving and nonjudgmental accepting us as we are-warts and all. And I do agree with the author that in my next life, I would like to be a dog in a home like mine!
Barry is a very handsome boi!
Granted, you have to be sure you are including proper nutrients and balances doggie needs, but after my little one developed the need for a special diet (kidney), I just got a couple of recipes from the vet and made it myself.
Once every 1-2 weeks, and it would go in freezer….. used a mortar/pestle for pulverizing child vitamins, and all the ingredients could go into same basket in pressure cooker. Once you get recipe down, it’s v easy.
She’d also been eating puréed butternut squash as breakfast for a long time. Could freeze that also.
Much cheaper and less hassle than fetching pre-made food.
My friends started doing it too when their dog got sick. They regret they didn’t do it before.
I’m not a dog owner unfortunately (child has allergies), but I would definitely make dog food myself from quality ingredients. I honestly don’t see the value of pre-made overpriced dog food.
Wonderful to hear! Love your story about Barry!
© 2022 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.
© 2022 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

source