When we first became aware of the plight of rural animal owners, we started suppling a nutritious and affordable dog meal at the two local tuckshops where we dip the dogs. We didn't sell a lot of it but it was a start and indicated a change in mindset, as very few rural people have ever bought specialized food for their dogs in the past, However, with inflation soaring, even this has become too expensive for people and we have had to put this facility on hold - hopefully only temporarily until things start to improve again.
An instant meal that only requires the addition of water (an added bonus for people who daily have to source their wood to cook over open fires) we bought it at just above cost and then subsidize it slightly, to bring it's price in line with the maize (mealie) meal that is the staple diet of most local people and their animals. It's higher in protein than maize meal - 20%, as opposed to 8 1/2% - which makes a huge difference to the dogs.
