Hi All! First of all, thanks for the support. I really appreciate it.
As for the dogs, it really is a two-part idea.
First of all, i want to begin breeding Labrador Retrievers, both black and yellow. I have already been saving for my first purebred puppies who will be born in about two months. Her mom was bred just on this last friday, so in about 4 months i will be able to bring her home
She is costing me a whopping $1500, and for those of you who know how tight money is for me you will understand how badly i want this dog if i am willing to pay that much for her. Mind you, once i have bred her, each puppy will be worth between $1500 & $2000. THAT will put some veggies on the table plus allow me to purchase a then third purebred dog to breed (i will hopefully have been able to purchase a second bitch next year).
But there is more to my idea, so much more. How many of you know about the rather recent trend of feeding dogs raw meat instead of kibble? This is how i feed one of my three current dogs and both he and i love this food regiment. Well, i now have this idea of producing raw meals to sell to the public.
There are currently about 6 or 7 raw food companies who vend in my area. Brcause of the need to keep the food frozen (because it is raw meat) these companies often dont sell very far from home. And when you look at what they are selling, the are vending boxes or bags or plastic containers of ground meats, usually 2 meats per box. This. Is. Stupid!
When you serve up a platter of raw meat to your dog, you can arrange so there is a bit of ground beef here, some lamb over there, some bison, some goat, some salmon, sometimes an egg in the half shell. Oh, and some green tripe which is just cow stomach before it has been bleached for human consumption. Dogs looooove green tripe! Anyway, usually you make these beautiful arrangements of meat on s platter with either a turkey or chicken wing for the calcium filled bone and serve THAT to your dog, an artful arrangement of meats that are artfully arranged so they look appetizing to Fido so that he has energy to further fetch frantically after balls.
So if i can design an artful display of foodstuffs for my dog, then why cannot these raw food companies do the same?
Because they are using the wrong method ofvpreservation -- freezing. All their foods are kept in the refrigerator.
My idea is to arrange these artful platters so that they make the food appealing to humans -- snd then freeze dry the whole platter as a meal for Rover. All you have to do is add some water and let it sit for a few minutes and voila! instant raw dog food that looks appetizing to the people actually buying it.
I think it will sell.
I am working with a business advisor right now on the idea and i have approacyed a local (and excellent) chefs school to ask them if they would like to make it a class exercise to design the platters of food for the dogs.
So right now I am researching prices of commercial freezers and fridges, sinks and meat grinders and everything else. It will cost a pretty penny to go into business but I am hoping that revenue from puppy sales will help fund the new Canine Cuisine - Total Nutritional System for your Dog.
So that is where I am at. Trying to keep myself busy through this divorce. Ginette wont be moving out until the beginning of March and then i am really on my own... I am quite frightened of the prospect. I am scared, after so long, to be alone again at the age of 51.
But if i can just keep busy then all will be okay. I have to believe that. Even when it is all so hard to keep going.
All my best,
Magnus
