Animal instinct says this pet food is better.
Science agrees.
Your pal is designed by nature to need natural raw protein for energy and strength.
But serving up raw doesn’t have to be messy and time consuming, because we’ve made it easy.
Animals Like Us is high protein meat bites, supercharged with chunks of premium, freeze-dried raw meat and organs. Your pet will love the added raw taste and raw digestibility. After all, it is what they are meant to eat.
Raw delivers more
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protein power
Not all protein is equal.
It’s scientifically proven that protein absorption from raw protein is significantly higher than processed protein found in cooked or canned diets.1
Combine that with naturally higher protein levels in raw diets and you have a supercharged effect. More protein, working harder for your dog.
Our chunks of freeze-dried raw ingredients have locked in those super protein structures, delivering a powerful boost in every bowl.
1. Buff, P., Carter, R., Bauer, J. & Kersey, J. Natural pet food: A review of natural diets and their impact on canine and feline physiology. Journal of animal science 92, doi:10.2527/jas.2014-7789 (2014).
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digestion
It’s good news for healthy poos!
Conventional heat processing of pet food reduces the availability of proteins and amino acids such as lysine.1 This makes it harder for your pal to digest and absorb.
In contrast, freeze-dried raw preserves these links and helps your pal digest more of the nutrition in their food.
Because they’ve absorbed more nutrition, there’s less out the other end. Meaning smaller, less smelly poos for you!2
1. Van Rooijen, C. et al. The Maillard reaction and pet food processing: effects on nutritive value and pet health. Nutrition Research Reviews 26, 130-148, doi:10.1017/s0954422413000103 (2013).
2. Vester, B. M. et al. Influence of feeding raw or extruded feline diets on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen metabolism of African wildcats (Felis lybica). Zoo Biology 29, 676-686, doi:10.1002/zoo.20305 (2010).
Freeman, L. M., Chandler, M. L., Hamper, B. A. & Weeth, L. P. Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat–based diets for dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 243, 1549-1558, doi:10.2460/javma.243.11.1549 (2013).
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taste
Dogs crave raw meat.
Dogs are naturally drawn to food with high concentrations of proteins and amino acids.1
They can taste the nutrition in the food, which is why they crave the goodness of raw meat and organs.
Our freeze-drying process locks in that natural nutrition and taste, creating lip-licking raw morsels with every bite.
1. Bradshaw, J. W. S. Sensory and experiential factors in the design of foods for domestic dogs and cats. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 50, 99-106, doi:10.1079/pns19910015 (1991).
A little goes a long way!
Freeze-drying effectively locks in nutrition, with over 98% of the raw nutritional value retained. The process also removes the heavy moisture in the meat, meaning the final product only weighs 20% of its original state!
This means your pal needs a little less Animals Like Us than regular food. You can calculate this using our feeding calculator.
How our food is made
New Zealand natural nutrient-rich sourced ingredients
We start with sourcing fresh raw wholefood ingredients from New Zealand farms and oceans. Every batch of Animals Like Us is thoroughly tested before it leaves our kitchen to ensure it meets our quality and safety standards.
Gently freeze-dried to lock in nutrition and freshness
Our ingredients are flash frozen and placed in a vacuum chamber for freeze-drying. About 90% of the food’s moisture is drawn off by evaporating the ice at temperatures as low as -50°C, then it is gently heated (75°C/167°F) for safety, to destroy any pathogens.
Protected in moisture and oxygen proof packaging
Our freeze-dried ingredients are mixed with high protein meat bites to create a complete and balanced diet that exceeds the AAFCO nutritional standards. It is packed in moisture and oxygen proof packaging here in New Zealand to ensure freshness until opened.
FAQs
About ALU
How did Animals Like Us start?
Animals Like Us was launched in October 2020 by Jeremy Moon and Rob Achten. We’re a privately New Zealand owned and operated company with our headquarters based in sunny Hawke’s Bay, New Zelaand. We source our ingredients sustainably from around New Zealand and bring it all together in our Hawkes Bay Production Kitchen.
Why was Animals Like Us created?
Our founders believe in good, natural food for our pets and were disappointed at what was accessible and commonly available on shelves. So they decided to take matters into their own hands! You can read our full background on our About Us page.
Is your packaging environmentally friendly?
Our product is packaged in a soft plastic bag that protects it from the elements and is easy to open and close. We’re constantly working towards reducing our packaging impact. Currently our soft plastic packaging is recyclable through local specialist collection points. These differ in every country; for example the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme in New Zealand.
We encourage you to check for soft plastic collection schemes in your area.
How to feed your dog
How much should I feed my dog?
Please refer to our feeding guideline to calculate the right portion size for your dog.
How often should I feed my dog?
If your dog prefers breakfast, lunch and dinner – no worries! You can feed your dog multiple times per day, simply split the amount listed on the feeding guidelines by the number of times you are feeding.
Can I deviate from the feeding guidelines?
Yes. Our feeding guidelines are only estimates based on your dog’s life stage and weight; it’s important to monitor your dog and ensure it’s having a complete and fulfilling meal and hasn’t become underweight or overweight. Refer to our Body Condition Check at the bottom of our feeding calculator.
How do I switch to your food?
It’s important to slowly transition your dog from their current diet, as it takes a few days for their gut to adapt to our nutrient rich food. Please follow the transition guide on our packaging or on our website. Please remember, while switching to our food, your dog may experience loose stools – if this happens, it should pass naturally in a day or so.
Should I give water with your food?
Absolutely! Staying hydrated is one of the most crucial components of your dog’s health; almost three quarters of your dog’s body is composed of water. This is why it’s incredibly important that you always make fresh clean water available to your dog. You don’t need to add it to the food, but you can if you wish.
Can I heat your food?
Heating our food isn’t harmful, but it will result in your dog not receiving the health benefits (such as beneficial enzymes) present in raw uncooked food.
Can I feed your food to my puppy or senior dog?
Yes, our food is designed to be a complete and balanced diet for all breeds and all life stages. Our only exclusion is for puppies that will grow to be large or giant breeds over 30kgs/70lb as an adult (they have special requirements). Please use our feeding calculator as a guide on how much to feed your dog.
Can your food be fed to dogs with allergies?
Our RawMix meals are not specifically formulated for pets with allergies, however, you may notice that many of the allergens present in commercial kibble or canned pet foods are not present in our food.
Our treats are designed to be single ingredient or from a single protein source perfect for dogs with allergies.
If your dog is sensitive to allergens, we recommend that you check the ingredient list on the food’s packaging first.
Our food
Why do we use raw?
Our philosophy mirrors the foods our animals have evolved to eat, incorporating a nourishing balance of fresh raw meat and organs in ratios that deliver nutrients naturally, in highly bio-available forms – so there’s no need for long lists of synthetic additives.
What are the key benefits of an Animals Like Us diet?
- Palatability: Dogs go crazy for our recipes. Independent testing shows best in class palatability.
- Digestive Health: Good news for healthy poos! Our mix of high-protein raw meats, combined with vitamins and fibre, keeps things moving, naturally.
- Skin health & shiny coats: Natural oils and omega fatty acids encourage healthy skin and a shiny coat.
- Healthy hips & joints: Contains naturally occurring glucosamine which supports healthy hips & joints.
Where is our food made?
Everything we can source in New Zealand, we do! All the protein is from right here; our grass-fed lamb, beef and cage-free chicken are sourced from ethical kiwi farms, and our ocean fish is from sustainable fisheries here in New Zealand. Key vegetables like peas and faba beans are also sourced locally. We source a small number of ingredients that are not available here, such as minerals and vitamin supplements, internationally, and a few veges like tapioca.
How are your freeze-dried chunks made?
We use fresh raw wholefood natural ingredients, which are freeze-dried, then gently heated (75°C/ 167°F) for safety. The innovative process gently removes the moisture and locks in all the nutritional goodness.
Who formulated your recipes?
We worked closely with animal scientists at AgResearch and Massey University who share our philosophy that a natural raw diet is nutritionally superior to a processed diet such as kibble-only.
Is your food nutritionally balanced & complete?
Our RawBlend33™ and RawMix50™ recipes meet and exceed AAFCO requirements for nutritionally complete pet food for all breeds and all life stages. Our only exclusion is for puppies that will grow to be large or giant breeds over 30kgs/70lb as an adult (they have special requirements). Please use our feeding guideline to calculate the precise diet for your pet.
Why does your food sometimes look different?
Because the ingredients we use are natural, the freeze-dried chunks and kibble sometimes differ between batches. Think about carrots growing in a home garden – no two are going to be the same. This variation carries over to our food and is a visual indication of how natural our food is.
What are the benefits of freeze-dried food?
Freeze-drying allows many of the vitamins and minerals present in raw food to be preserved, meaning that a pet can receive nutritional benefits from them as they would in the wild. The flavour of raw meat is also preserved in the freeze-drying process, which makes it highly appealing to animals, as they are biologically wired to love that taste. Finally, freeze-dried food is convenient to serve; it does not have to be refrigerated or frozen to maintain its quality and flavour.
Why does your product contain organ meat?
Organ meats are packed with nutrients such as Vitamin D (essential for immune systems), omega fatty acids (which support long and healthy lives), B vitamins and folic acid. They are also a good source of minerals, like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium and iodine and are highly appealing to animal tastebuds.
Does your food contain GMOs, grains or hormones?
No way! Our food does not contain GMOs, added grains, added glycerin, growth promotants, or hormones.
Our products
What is RawBlend33™?
RawBlend33™is a tasty mix of 33% raw freeze-dried NZ meat & organs combined with 67% high protein meat bites. It’s our supermarket range, available in three recipes.
What is RawMix50™?
RawMix50™ is a tasty mix of 50% raw freeze-dried NZ meat & organs combined with 50% high protein meat bites. It’s our specialty pet store range available in three recipes.
What are your 100% raw freeze-dried Treats?
Our treats are 100% New Zealand raw freeze-dried organ meat and are designed to be used for training, snacks, enrichment or creative recipes. Because they are organ meat – dogs go mental for them.
With our single ingredient treats range you can be confident your dog’s getting nothing but what it says on the front of the pack. Which makes them great for allergies, sensitive stomachs and fussy dogs.
Safety
Is raw food really good for animals?
Your pet evolved from the wild and they’re designed to eat that way, which is why we use premium New Zealand fish, meat & organs. The raw ingredients we use are first grade human quality meat, heart, liver, tripe, chicken and fish. It’s higher in protein and essential nutrients, and lower in carbs. Our raw product is freeze-dried, meaning we can offer the nutritional benefits of raw food in a safe and convenient way.
Is your raw freeze-dried food safe?
Yes, we use fresh raw wholefood natural ingredients, which are freeze-dried, which are freeze-dried, then gently heated (75°C/ 167°F) and tested to ensure its safe for your pet to eat.
How should I handle your food?
When you’re done feeding your pet, as with any raw meat, ensure that you wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly. We also recommend keeping our food separate from any other food.
How should I store your food?
To maintain our food’s freshness and quality, we recommend that it is stored away from sunlight and kept air-tight once opened. It isn’t necessary to store the food in a refrigerator.
Support
If you have any problems with your food or additional comments or questions?
Please contact us at hello@animalslikeus.com
