Community Corner
Pet Market Promotes Natural Food, Holistic Living
A new business in downtown Woodstock wants to change how pet owners care for and feed their furry family members.
Editor's note: Patch reached out to Valerie Marshall, co-owner of The Dogma Natural Pet Market which recently opened a new facility at 8420 Main Street in downtown Woodstock.
Its hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Customers can call (678) 460-6364 for more information.
The following is a Q and A with Marshall about her venture:
1. When did you officially open to the public? How is business going?
Our online business, www.TheDogMaOnline.com, has been online for three years. We deliver locally and throughout metro Atlanta and we ship raw pet food or holistic dry nutrition nationally. We've been running our business out of our garage and home office but, finally found a little nook in downtown Woodstock, that we could open a space that our customers can come to, to talk dogs and to show me what they are talking about (i.e dry dog skin, gunky ears, etc.). Our local customers are coming by to say hello, and they can still order online. We will deliver or ship to them or they can pick up. We are excited with the opportunity to share our dogma on feeding pets and our knowledge of natural pet foods with the Woodstock community. We opened in downtown, two weeks ago and are just stocking now.
2. What do you think distinguishes you from other similar enterprises? Lots of things make us different. We are true dog people, dedicated to the Golden Retriever, raising and showing AKC (American Kennel Club) champions for decades. We believe "food is medicine" and have had positive outcomes with our 30+ years raising dogs and with our customers feeding natural foods. Before we had our a-ha moment, we were going to the vet for all sorts of common issues like ear infections, itchy skin, runny eyes, hot spots, etc. All of those issues disappeared when we began to feed better food and took chemicals out of our environment, food, treats, shampoos (and) water. I've been employed as a regional sales manager for two of the top national, all natural pet food manufacturers. I can wade through the marketing pitches, drill down and learn about where the ingredients have come from. I've been to manufacturing plants, and will not sell food from plants that I know have produced tainted food products in the past. I've studied for years about how nutrients from foods and herbs affect a dog's body and began sharing the knowledge that grew into The Dogma Natural Pet Market. Because of my background, we will not sell just any foods, even if there is money to be made. We make decisions for our customers based on quality ingredients, never compromising to save money. By sticking to our dogma, where we feed better foods, we see the vet bills decrease. The family is happier and so is the pet. We urge people to bring their dogs in and to talk about a path to wellness via food. We plan to have alternative practitioners set up and people can come visit them at our little barn too.
3. How and when did you get involved in the natural dog food trend? The good news is it's not a trend. We've been feeding natural, holistic, fresh foods to our dogs for 20 years. We moved from the west coast to Woodstock, and it is the norm there. I started studying dog nutrition when my first Golden (Retriever), Winston, had every common allergy and aliment there was. He had a basket of medicine. Never once did the vet mention it could be poor diet from the grocery store brand, we were feeding him. But, that all changed when I began feeding nutrients from food to him. Imagine my surprise when the ears cleared up, the eyes stopped running and no more hot spots. My passion grew with each healthier day for my Winston.
4. Do you think this trend will become the norm? If so, why? Definitely. Once a dog owner makes the commitment to aim for optimum wellness as apposed to just sustaining a dog they're hooked. It is about education and that is our job! How many times have I heard "oh he does great on this food" and "he takes this medicine for this or that." I currently live in a multiple dog household. No one is on any pharmaceuticals and they live long lives. The last dog I lost was 15 years old and did not have cancer. We try to avoid cancers and degenerative diseases via food. It is possible.
5. What, if any, other services do you offer? I love to counsel pet owners and I am always available to meet with or speak to about the foods. I always recommend a holistic vet and know some great ones. We deliver and offer bulk food specials for those with multiple dogs.
6. Can you tell Patch readers about yourself (background, etc)?
Its hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Customers can call (678) 460-6364 for more information.
The following is a Q and A with Marshall about her venture:
1. When did you officially open to the public? How is business going?
Our online business, www.TheDogMaOnline.com, has been online for three years. We deliver locally and throughout metro Atlanta and we ship raw pet food or holistic dry nutrition nationally. We've been running our business out of our garage and home office but, finally found a little nook in downtown Woodstock, that we could open a space that our customers can come to, to talk dogs and to show me what they are talking about (i.e dry dog skin, gunky ears, etc.). Our local customers are coming by to say hello, and they can still order online. We will deliver or ship to them or they can pick up. We are excited with the opportunity to share our dogma on feeding pets and our knowledge of natural pet foods with the Woodstock community. We opened in downtown, two weeks ago and are just stocking now.
2. What do you think distinguishes you from other similar enterprises? Lots of things make us different. We are true dog people, dedicated to the Golden Retriever, raising and showing AKC (American Kennel Club) champions for decades. We believe "food is medicine" and have had positive outcomes with our 30+ years raising dogs and with our customers feeding natural foods. Before we had our a-ha moment, we were going to the vet for all sorts of common issues like ear infections, itchy skin, runny eyes, hot spots, etc. All of those issues disappeared when we began to feed better food and took chemicals out of our environment, food, treats, shampoos (and) water. I've been employed as a regional sales manager for two of the top national, all natural pet food manufacturers. I can wade through the marketing pitches, drill down and learn about where the ingredients have come from. I've been to manufacturing plants, and will not sell food from plants that I know have produced tainted food products in the past. I've studied for years about how nutrients from foods and herbs affect a dog's body and began sharing the knowledge that grew into The Dogma Natural Pet Market. Because of my background, we will not sell just any foods, even if there is money to be made. We make decisions for our customers based on quality ingredients, never compromising to save money. By sticking to our dogma, where we feed better foods, we see the vet bills decrease. The family is happier and so is the pet. We urge people to bring their dogs in and to talk about a path to wellness via food. We plan to have alternative practitioners set up and people can come visit them at our little barn too.
3. How and when did you get involved in the natural dog food trend? The good news is it's not a trend. We've been feeding natural, holistic, fresh foods to our dogs for 20 years. We moved from the west coast to Woodstock, and it is the norm there. I started studying dog nutrition when my first Golden (Retriever), Winston, had every common allergy and aliment there was. He had a basket of medicine. Never once did the vet mention it could be poor diet from the grocery store brand, we were feeding him. But, that all changed when I began feeding nutrients from food to him. Imagine my surprise when the ears cleared up, the eyes stopped running and no more hot spots. My passion grew with each healthier day for my Winston.
4. Do you think this trend will become the norm? If so, why? Definitely. Once a dog owner makes the commitment to aim for optimum wellness as apposed to just sustaining a dog they're hooked. It is about education and that is our job! How many times have I heard "oh he does great on this food" and "he takes this medicine for this or that." I currently live in a multiple dog household. No one is on any pharmaceuticals and they live long lives. The last dog I lost was 15 years old and did not have cancer. We try to avoid cancers and degenerative diseases via food. It is possible.
5. What, if any, other services do you offer? I love to counsel pet owners and I am always available to meet with or speak to about the foods. I always recommend a holistic vet and know some great ones. We deliver and offer bulk food specials for those with multiple dogs.
6. Can you tell Patch readers about yourself (background, etc)?
We're real dog people! I've been selling natural pet foods since 2001 for companies since 2001. The Dogma Natural Pet Market, a small family business, was established in 2010, and is designed to offer the best cutting edge, all natural dog and cat food available with an emphasis on raw pet food. We're not corporate looking by design. We want our online store/and the downtown spot to have an organic, homey feel to it. Our company offers the largest selection of raw dog and cat food anywhere on the web with free shipping options, as well as locally with complimentary delivery in metro Atlanta. Our company adheres to our dogma, “no chemicals in, on or around our pets” when considering what products to offer, and only offer products we would utilize with our own dogs. We are active Golden Retriever fanciers and been devoted to the breed since 1983.
7. Why should Woodstock residents patronize your business? Because we're local Woodstock Residents and want them to have healthier pets and save money. We have decades of knowledge that we will share with you. Our goal is healthier pets for our customers and want to grow into a "Pet Wellness Center" serving the area with the best foods and alternative practitioners to aid our customers path to pet wellness.
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