It's a Wednesday and we're walking with Miya Gowdy and Vivian Outlaw in Tribeca. We pass photographers, sculptors, painters, boutique and various other shop owners while pup-razzi stop the women to say hello in this tony neighborhood. When we approach the chic Harrison and 4-star Chanterelle restaurants, we know we arrived at a very special kitchen that is nestled between the famed eateries.
Since founding Righteous Dog FoodT, Miya and Vivian have been earning a 4-paw rating from dogs and their owners. Doggie testimonials have been pouring into the headquarters of this enterprise that is leading the pet food trend in a new direction. And, yes - there's a wagging tail lineup in the street. Snouts and velvety muzzles are pointed straight up in the air with a keen awareness that this in-vogue, Tribeca kitchen is cooking up irresistible and savory canine meals.
Walking in tandem with Miya and Vivian takes on a glamorous ambience; the undercurrent of celebrity-ism is evident and invigorating. Everyone knows them, the dog owners for sure and we think that includes, though unconfirmed, cat owners. Pet clientele place street-side orders and share that on the new Righteous diet Fido's ailments such as; scratching and ear infections are no longer a problem. Increased pooch energy, clear eyes and shinier coats now replaces the old medical tonality of shared conversation between pet owners and pet food gurus.
Righteous Dog Food's success is something in which the community takes great pride. Photographer, Jan Meissner, like many others of the eclectic and renowned artists in the hood, contributed her talents to the Righteous website. She captured the founders' essence and impassioned mission which is: bringing a fresh product to market and maintaining a visionary grassroots philosophy. Righteous Dog Food's goal is to help heal and rejuvenate one dog at a time.
Miya and Vivian are partners in synch. They compliment one another's strengths as well as match one another's modesty. And they share a love of Afghan Hounds.
Miya Gowdy: I spotted this beautiful white Afghan coming out of a pet store. Lancelot, my 14 year old Afghan had passed away earlier that year. Upon seeing this magnificent dog I became attracted and compelled to converse with a fellow Afghan-aficionado. Soon we were talking about various canine health issues related not just to our breed but to all dogs.
Ten years earlier I had began cooking for Chula, my 7 year old female Afghan. She had come down with lymphoma. Instead going the conventional route, I decided on a homeopathic path and went to see a holistic veternarian in Rosendale, NY. From that point on my way of thinking changed. I began researching, testing and developing pet food gearing itself towards improving, replenishing and balancing the immune system of my dogs.
For Chula, it was too late; she lived only six months more. But Lancelot has an amazing story. At age 7, he was always coming down with something - ear infections, dirahea and digestion issues. Changing his food made the difference. Miya fed him raw protein sources and cooked grains. The luster and radiance returned to his physical appearance and his energy level increased. But that would soon change.
On 9/11, living near Ground Zero, Lancelot and Miya were on their rooftop garden. She saw the planes hit. Six months later Lancelot's health sharply declined. A tumor was found and his spine arched. They left the city to escape whatever was making him sick. During this time Miya became re-empassioned to go back to work on the pet food formula. Now more than ever she was determined to make a difference, one that would save her dog's life.
Vivian Outlaw: The photos she showed me of Lancelot tell everything. He was very sick. Yet under Miya's care and her reformulated diet he lived another 4 healthy years. That was testomnial enough for me and for Oskar, my Afghan.
WOOF Patrol: You're both artists. Did that factor into the process?
V.O.: Absolutely. She's an abstract artist and I'm a portrait painter. Our styles are different yet both our techniques focus on the details and allow us to blend and nurture as well as to expand the conventional canvas. We see the possibilities of taking The Righteous Dog Food movement to new levels that reverberate and contribute back to communities.
M.G.: We envision regional kitchens using locally sourced, fresh-from-the-farm, all natural and organic ingredients.
V.O.: Over the past two years we standardized our food preparations and grew our once personalized neighborhood delivery system to one that now includes 5 New York stores. We've also had a few very interesting inquiries from national chains.
W.P.: You hand delivered your products?
M.G.: Sure. Earlier on we used ice-cream containers with no labels. They resembled Chinese take out and folks took immediately to the product. We quickly realized we needed better packaging.
V.O.: Packaging is where we as artists tend to mull over things such as color, shape and typography. We worked with a designer that likely may not have ever realized the subtle variancies in greens and pinks.
M.G.: When it came to a defining image it was obvious we needed something that could lead a pet food revolution. Oskar leaned into us, struck a pose and-
V.O.: A canine Che Guevara was channeled and brought to life.
On September 2, 2007, Frederick Kaufman wrote a piece for The New York Times Magazine entitled: They Eat What We Are. The article explores a multitude of information ranging from research at Dr. George Fahey's animal-science laboratory located at the University of Illionois (a research facility studying the nutritional absorbotion rates of animals and much more) to a look at the push to reform pet food. Caninie and feline cuisine is being reformed as well as transformed via a grassroots movement. Righteous Dog Food not only aligns with the trend but is advancing the canine culinary revolution.
V.O.: Our developmental process focuses on removing the guess work from the healthy feeding of your pet. Each of our hand-selected ingredients is chosen for its essential role in promoting and maintaining your dog's health and happiness. Our products meet or exceed the rigourous standards set by the National Research Council (NRC) for the nutrient and caloric intake for dogs.
M.G: The demand for Righteous Dog Food has increased. We still cook out of our kitchen to retool and upgrade the formula. Both of us feel there's always more that we can improve upon as well as enhance; and then of course new products are in development. In our upstate facility we maintain fastidious attention to each batch of food ensuring that even though production levels more than double, that every container is crafted, not processed. Ingredients are individually measured out.
Pooch testomonials can be read online at www.righteousdogfood.com (below are snippets but WOOF Patrol recommends you head to their site for the full read). Or, simply take a canine stroll in the in the captivating and artistic Tribeca Righteous neighborhood. Less than a minute after our curbside meeting with Miya and Vivian came an onslaught of sometimes paired canine duos such as Tracy and Caleb (Shelties) and others like Chanel (Yorkshire Terrior) going the sexy-single route.
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Jane Freeman, Tracy and Caleb:
"Caleb was healthy except for bouts with diarrhea and Tracy's health from the get go was not optimal. We switched to RIGHTEOUS DOG FOOD and within days their digestion normalized - no more diarrhea. Righteous Dog Food is simply the best feeding solution I can imagine - balanced, nutritious and delicious. I wouldn't feed my dogs anything less." |
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Terry Scogna and Chanel:
"Her coat was thinning and you could see her skin. For years her eyes had been running and cakey - at times they looked milky. Within one month of taking Righteous Dog Food, Chanel's coat is thick and shiny again. Evidentially, she was missing some important vitamins and minerals." No more. By the way Chanel is 15 years old and sexy-single is her signature look. |
Miya and Vivian, both artists, one abstract, the later known for her portaits. Their canvases are passionate and vibrant. They understand life's unique intepretations and as well as sense of play and interaction with others. Miya's smile is one of warmth and an expression of an opened heart. Vivian's infectious laugh punctuates the ends of all of her sentences and her eyes twinkle with child-like play.
Vivian Outlaw
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Miya Gowdy
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V.O.: We learn from the individual dogs and their owners. Each dog requires a different ingredient and balance. That's what we are doing with our product; refining and being able to do so in a way that provides maxium benefits. Our palletes in the kitchen are not filled with paint but with: yams, carrots, chicken hearts & livers, apples, potatoes, eggs, oat flakes, barley flakes, fresh dandelion greens, safflower oil, kelp, rose hips, garlic, alfalfa, fresh cilantro & parsley, salmon oil, rosemary, vitamin E oil and either naturally raised chicken or beef.
Miya and Vivian are a success story that Oprah Winfrey should book on her show. The megastar should ask them to talk about their 'Aha' moment: When did they realize they got it? And, at what point did their determination become not just a force but a Righteous Dog Food Revolution? They of course will have the answer and it will be noteworthy so make sure you tune in to watch. Expect them to talk about their neighborhood and their community with great affection and warmth. They are the neighborhood girls that you expect Norah Jones to compose a song for because they are not only making a difference, but a pawsitive impact.
All photos courtesy of Jan Meissner - www.janmeissner.net - CHECK OUT HER WEBSITE!!!
Photo: WOOF Patrol
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Photo: Jan Meissner
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Photo: Jan Meissner
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