Our Story

Having grown up around dogs and cats, we, Pooja & Prateik, are no strangers to the charms and responsibilities of being pet parents. We have always believed in #adoptdontshop and strived to live by this philosophy. In the last decade, we have been chosen by injured, abandoned, sick and disabled creatures to be their care-givers. With each of these special beings, we learned a little bit more about their specific health needs. 

On the fateful night of Laxmi Puja 2020, while the country was celebrating Diwali, an anorexic German Spitz with what seemed to be a severe skin infection, was spotted by Pooja running helter-skelter on a chaotic street in Pune, India. While Pooja stopped to check on her with some biscuits, this dog had other plans. This petrified dog right away jumped onto Pooja’s scooty refusing to get down. Left with no other choice, Pooja decided to bring this foul-smelling creature home. Once fed and rested, we discovered this female dog had a severe case of mange, anorexia, ear infection and massive behavioral issues due to the trauma she had endured. Most likely, she had been abandoned and seemed to have been on the streets for a while. We decided to adopt her, and christen her Phoenix – the one who rises from the ashes! 

After mandatory initial visits to our trusted vet, it was clear that Phoenix’s physical and mental rehabilitation required much more than traditional medicine. Hitherto busy with our professional lives, Phoenix’s entry into our lives ushered in an obsession for us where we found ourselves hooked onto online videos, reading blogs and articles to find a solution for her health issues through nutrition & natural methods. 

We soon realized that there was so much information available, but most of it was contradictory or simply confusing. Unable to find a complete holistic system to help Phoenix’s recovery, we decided to invest our time in Canine Nutrition & Pet Health courses. We delved into veterinary books and started following experts in holistic pet care to stay abreast of this evolving science. 

Armed with this knowledge, we were able to put Phoenix on a nutritious, wholesome and species-appropriate diet, which started showing fabulous results within only six months! Phoenix has been a fit, healthy and happy girl ever since. She is now approximately 8 years old (in 2024) and has great levels of energy, and no diagnosed illnesses so far. 

In April 2022, after Phoenix’s full recovery, we came across a social media post with an adoption appeal for a skinny, sad and injured male Golden Retriever, Sam. Sam was found on the streets of Mumbai living in deplorable conditions, initially at a garage and eventually outside a restaurant. 

Sam’s photo called out to us, and off we went again! Sam came home in May 2022 with a fractured hind leg, severe malnourishment and hungry for affection. Although a good boy, Sam’s health was far from ‘good’. 

Thanks to our investment in Canine Holistic Health & Nutrition, Sam’s rehabilitation was much easier. Even though his conditions differed from Phoenix’s, we knew the natural remedies that would help his recuperation. Within only two months, Sam recovered from his broken leg, had reached his optimal weight, was able to run, fetch his ball and play persistently. 

Rescuing Phoenix and Sam was just the first step towards trying to make their life better, but our real challenge was their complete physical, mental and emotional rehabilitation, achieved over time not overnight. Through our learnings, we now know that natural & healthy food, playtime and love are the basic ingredients for happy and healthy pets. Like humans, pets too need to feel hope and a sense of belonging. Healing begins from within! 

Having seen the results of our newly acquired skills, friends and family with pets started seeking regular casual advice, and we often found ourselves delivering a doggy bag of fresh food to them. Doggy Bag Co. was founded even before we knew it! 

This is our passion. This feels like our life mission, giving us purpose each day. We officially launched Doggy Bag Co. (aka DBC) in February 2023. What started off as just fresh doggy meals, has now captured our imagination and we also design supplements and treats, curated pet menus, special seasonal goodies and offer holistic pet lifestyle advice.