Skip to main content

BoGo Bowl: Pet Food that Feeds Needy Animals

BoGo Bowl pet food company
Image used with permission by copyright holder
What if when you bought your dog (or cat) a bag of food and you were somehow able to also feed vulnerable, hungry animals at the same time? Thanks to Sara Henderson and Susan Hollar, it’s the world we get to live in. For every bag of pet food you purchase from their company, BoGo Bowl, they give a bag to shelters or even private homes in need.

BoGo Bowl is top-tier, quality dog (and now cat!) food made without fillers or artificial ingredients. We’re talking chicken protein, vegetables, fruits, and vitamins, like omegas and glucosamine. There are a variety of options, ranging from puppy food to adult dog food, offering different meats, like chicken, lamb, and salmon. Want grain free? They’ve got it! The website DogFoodAdvisor.com has given them four stars, and will walk you through all of BoGo’s ingredients. According to DogFoodAdvisor.com, unlike some other major pet food suppliers, as of the date of publication, BoGo Bowl has had zero recalls and no quality issues.

It’s slightly pricier than the dog food you just pick up at the store, but you’re caring for more animals than just your own when you buy BoGo. They do offer samples if you’d like your furry friends to try it before committing to the big bags. An added bonus, they offer wildly convenient, optional subscription service so you’ll never run out or have to lug the bag home from the store.

Ironically, it was cruelty that gave rise to BoGo Bowl. Before they met, Henderson and Hollar adopted two special needs dogs who had been the victims of unfathomable abuse: Henderson adopted Chance, who had been tied to an active railroad track, but managed to survive, and Hollar has Duke, who was shot and left for dead.

Henderson and Hollar connected in 2011, bonding over their love of animals and the rewards and difficulties of caring for dogs like Chance and Duke. While both had always wanted to find a way to make a difference, it wasn’t until they teamed up, inspired by their beloved dogs, that BoGo Bowl was born.

Animal shelters do incredible work, often without sufficient resources. Most shelters have wish lists for all the items they need: towels, carriers, toys, most importantly, food. You can find the list of current shelters and organizations that benefit from BoGo Bowl here, broken down by state. Perhaps the best part of BoGo Bowl is that you can add a shelter or organization close to your heart (perhaps the shelter you rescued your best friend from?) and they will reach out to include them in the program.

Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl is a southern girl in the heart of Los Angeles who lived far too long before learning what an incredible food…
12 classic sci-fi books everyone should read
If you love science fiction and reading, these classic sci-fi novels are a must
Man reading a book and drinking coffee

It may feel like we were recently living in a science-fiction dystopia life -- and in some ways, we were -- but that doesn't mean that we should simply avoid an entire genre of writing. Hardly. In fact, this is probably the perfect time to explore classic sci-fi books, to see what the masters have written, and maybe even see if someone predicted anything like this. Many, though, simply ignore sci-fi wholly and completely because of an association with robots, aliens, and the like.

Long story short, if you think you don't like sci-fi, you have never read great books from the genre. But indeed, many such books abound, including a number that has delighted generations of readers going back well over 150 years. In fact, one of the best things about so many sci-fi books is their very timelessness. As by definition, this type of fiction breaks away from the norms of the everyday world -- whether slightly twisting things or taking place on entire other worlds -- the stories often feel as fresh and relevant today as when they were published decades ago.

Read more
The 7 best classic fantasy books to get lost in
Even adults can enjoy entering the fantasy world
Man reading a book

Using the term "fantasy" when it comes to fiction, we are admittedly casting a pretty wide net. After all, think about just how many shows and movies could technically be considered fantasy, too. If. we're talking about classic, canonical fantasy, though, the net shrinks considerably. If a book is to stand the test of time to be considered a classic -- regardless of genre -- it has to be damn good. At the risk of offending plenty of authors and fantasy fans both of yesteryear and today, most fantasy writing ... how should I put this? In a few decades, it won't be on some future writer's list of fantasy classics.

I say all that as an absolute fan of fantasy writing. From the Game of Thrones books, our era's Lord of the Rings, to the novels of Neil Gaiman, to the Twilight series (except not that), there is a plethora of great fantasy writing being produced today. But if you're looking to get into the genre or are already an aficionado with a few gaps in your reading list, classic fantasy novels are always a fine choice, as are classic mysteries, classic adventure books, and on it goes across every genre of literature.

Read more
How do cigars make you feel? My experience as a cigar smoker
Man smoking a cigar in a newsboy cap outside.

Most enthusiasts and cigar lovers smoke for more than just the appearance. In other words, it's not about looking cool or suave but about the experience itself. Smoking a good cigar is flavorful, pleasurable, and relaxing, and, on occasion, may even make you feel light-headed or give you a slight buzz -- although it's nothing like drinking or imbibing other common substances. For someone who's never smoked before or is interested in getting into the hobby, wondering just how cigars make you feel is a valid concern. What can you expect, and what is it about cigars that change the experience for better or worse?
How does a cigar make you feel?

For the most part, a cigar experience is pleasurable and relaxing, but nothing more. You don't smoke to feel something, so it's not like drinking alcohol or taking other substances in the sense that you're doing it to chase a particular feeling. If you like drinking for the taste or the flavors, that's the best comparison to smoking a cigar. A good cigar will be aromatic but also leaves a lot of nuanced flavor on your tongue and, if you retro-hale, in your nostrils. You'll get hints of chocolate, coffee, leather, spice, and maybe even some sweet tones like fruit. It depends on the cigar and the blend.

Read more