I told myself I was just coming to check out the event. That lasted approximately thirty seconds.
I walked into JustFoodForDogs’ DOGust adoption event in NYC expecting to meet a few cute rescue pups. Instead, I found myself mentally naming dogs, imagining them in my apartment, and wondering how quickly my landlord would notice a second dog-shaped shadow following me around.
The event, held August 1 in partnership with Korean K9 Rescue and Second Chance Rescue, brought adoptable dogs together with New Yorkers who were ready to meet them. But as much as I loved getting to know the dogs, I walked away thinking about something else, too: what I’m going to feed my future dog.
I’ve always known that what you feed your dog matters, but JustFoodForDogs completely changed the way I think about it. Here are four things that made me understand why everyone is talking about JFFD.
1. It’s actually made with food I recognize
The biggest eye-opener for me was learning that JustFoodForDogs uses 100% human-grade ingredients—the same types of ingredients I’d expect to find at a grocery store or restaurant.
We’re talking real meats, fresh vegetables and fruit, rather than heavily processed ingredients. Their meats are USDA-inspected and approved for human consumption, and the recipes contain no preservatives.
As someone who reads ingredient labels on everything I buy for myself, this just made sense. If I’m going to be responsible for another living being, I want to know exactly what’s going into their bowl.
2. There’s actual science behind the food
This was probably the part I appreciated most. JustFoodForDogs isn’t simply saying fresh food is better and leaving it at that.
The company has conducted humane, systematic feeding trials on all of its daily canine recipes, and its food is formulated to meet National Research Council standards and tested through AAFCO feeding trials.
I also learned that long-term dog food needs added nutrients to provide everything dogs require every day. JustFoodForDogs uses high-quality supplements intended for human consumption, rather than treating supplements like an afterthought.
Basically, the fresh-food concept is backed by research—not just a cute Instagram aesthetic.
3. Fresh doesn’t have to mean inconvenient
I live in NYC. My biggest concern with switching to fresh dog food was honestly, Where am I supposed to fit another thing into my already chaotic life?
Luckily, there are both Fresh Frozen and Pantry Fresh options.
Fresh Frozen meals are prepared in small batches to help retain nutritional value. Pantry Fresh meals are shelf-stable for up to two years before opening, so there’s no need to rearrange my tiny NYC refrigerator around a dog’s dinner.
And when I eventually adopt, I can work with a JustFoodForDogs Nutrition Consultant to figure out which diet makes the most sense for my dog.
4. Buying JFFD supports dogs who are still waiting for homes
This might be my favorite part.
JustFoodForDogs has a broader initiative called The Adoption Project, which provides fresh, whole-food meals to rescue organizations. At the DOGust event, I got to meet adoptable dogs from Korean K9 Rescue and Second Chance Rescue and talk with people who actually know these dogs and their personalities.
That made the experience feel so much more meaningful than simply walking through an adoption event. I could ask questions, meet the dogs and start thinking seriously about what kind of dog might fit my life.
And yes, adoptions from the event also came with a $50 JustFoodForDogs gift card—which honestly felt like the universe telling me to get my future dog's dinner sorted.
I went to this event thinking I might meet a dog. I left realizing that when I finally do bring one home, JustFoodForDogs is going to be at the top of my shopping list.
Now I just need to figure out which dog is coming home with me.
