PRESS RELEASE: The Farmer’s Dog Announces Charter Sponsorship of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

April 16, 2024: The Farmer’s Dog, the pet-food company delivering vet-developed, science-backed, human-grade fresh dog food, today announced its charter sponsorship of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP).

As a charter sponsor, The Farmer’s Dog will support APOP’s important work improving pet longevity and quality of life by treating and preventing obesity.

APOP has been a pioneer in bringing awareness to this critical canine health issue. APOP’s research on pet obesity rates has shown that the disease is an epidemic in the U.S.—with 59% of dogs reported as overweight or obese in 2022—and has highlighted the urgent need to make weight management an animal-health priority. 

“APOP has done a tremendous job cataloguing how serious this disease has become,” said Dr. Brandon Stapleton, head veterinarian for The Farmer’s Dog. “And since studies show overweight dogs have reduced longevity and quality of life compared to their normal-weight counterparts, we share APOP’s mission and duty to help as many dogs as possible avoid the consequences of excess weight. It's why we are so focused on helping provide the tools and education on how to help get dogs to an ideal weight and keep them there."

Dog health and longevity are central to The Farmer's Dog service and ethos, and maintaining dogs at a healthy weight is a central focus.

The company has helped give dog owners and vet professionals peace of mind by making fresh complete and balanced food to human-grade safety standards. The food is delivered to customers in packs that are pre-portioned based on each dog’s unique caloric needs—making weight management easier. 

“We’re excited to welcome The Farmer’s Dog as a Charter Sponsor,” said Dr. Ernie Ward, APOP Founder. “Their commitment to pet nutrition and improving the health of dogs aligns perfectly with our mission. The Farmer’s Dog offers fresh food with a portion control system targeted to each dog’s unique needs to help ensure dogs receive proper nutrients for optimal health without adding excess calories that can lead to weight gain. We’re looking forward to partnering on research and interventional strategies to improve the quality of life for man’s best friend.”

About The Farmer’s Dog:

Since its founding in 2014, The Farmer’s Dog has emerged as the leader in reimagining the $100+ billion pet-care industry, starting by making fresh food for dogs. Founded on the idea that avoiding ultra-processed food is an important way to improve the health of our pets, The Farmer’s Dog makes its fresh recipes in human-food facilities to human-food standards. Food plans are developed by board-certified nutritionists, pre-portioned for each dog’s unique needs for easier weight management, and delivered right to customers’ doors. To date, we’ve delivered hundreds of millions of meals nationwide and continue to apply technology and research to improving how we care for our pets.

About the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP):
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 with the primary mission of preventing and treating pet obesity. APOP conducts research to substantiate pet obesity prevalence levels in the United States and offers resources and tools to veterinarians and pet parents to recognize, prevent, and treat pet obesity. For more information, visit www.petobesityprevention.org

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