Barkpost - Dogs and Their People: Photos and Stories of Life with a Four-Legged Love

To dogs: Thanks for being our best buds for the past 31,000 years.

FAMILY

(fam-i-lee ) n.

1. You love them and they love you.
2. You trust them and they trust you.
3. You take care of them and they take care of you.
4. You know each other by heart... and by fart.

These pages celebrate the couch-snuggling, belly-scratching, snout-kissing humans who share their lives with dogs.

We, like you, are dog people.

We dedicate these stories to the millions of us out there who share a special connection to these furry dumplings and know how much richer life is with a dog by our side.

Here are just a few of the infinite reasons that demonstrate the lengths you would go out of a kooky, insatiable love for your dog.

YOU STARTED A COMPANY WITH THE SOLE MISSION TO MAKE DOGS HAPPY.

Im obsessed with my dog, a Great Dane named Hugo. I was looking for ways to make Hugo happy with a new toy or treat that was perfect for him but found it very challenging.

I shared that with Henrik, and we thought of the monthly box idea with products that are perfect for your dog. Selling to a million people didnt really matter as long as my dog loved it. Were a company that exists to make dogs and their people happy. We have toys and treats for dogs, entertainment for dogs and their people, experiences for dogs and their people, and so much more coming in the future. Im telling you, in the next five years I will fly on a commercial flight with my Great Dane in the cabin, and well be responsible for that.

Matt Meeker & Hugo

CO-FOUNDER OF BARK & CO.

In the first days of Bark & Co., my wife and I fostered dogs constantly. Fostering opened my eyes to so many issues in the dog world that I never noticed before.

I wanted to find a way to scale my donation to dogs in need and realized that in order to help millions of dogs, I needed to build a company where that mission was a part of the DNA. Today and always, helping dogs in need is a core value of the Bark ethos.

When my wife became pregnant, we decided to find one dog that could become our sons best friend. We met our dog, Molly, through a rescue organization that brought her up from the streets of Mobile, Alabama. Molly is now a constant inspiration that forces me to think of new experiences I can have with her that make her happy. I feel that part of the reason we have been so successful in launching new products and services is that its all anchored in our love for our own dogs.

Henrik Werdelin & Molly

CO-FOUNDER OF BARK & CO.

When I was growing up, we didnt have big pet stores in upstate New York. Our town had a local dog bakery and a very small pet boutique. I grew accustomed to exploring small and local brands and being able to treat my dogs, Cooper and Roxy, to something more unique and special.

I later realized that everyone hadnt had the same experience as my own. That became, and still is, a huge part of Barkdiscovering amazing experiences out there and personalizing it all for your dog.

I had explored several career paths since college, from engineering to finance to operations. When I started to think about what I really cared about and what made me happy every day, the only things that stood out were my dogs. I never thought Id actually have the opportunity to mix my career focus and my passion, and when I met Henrik and Matt, I thought I was dreaming.

Carly Strife, Roxy & Cooper

CO-FOUNDER OF BARK & CO.

TIMELINE OF BARK & CO.

AUGUST

2011

The rise of celebridogs like Boo, Tuna, and the Doge meme hit mainstream.

DECEMBER

2011

Bark & Co. ships its first BarkBox from Chinatown, NYC. Founders Matt, Carly, and Henrik pay friends in pizza to help pack boxes of toys and treats to send to lucky pups across the country. Henrik, originally from Denmark, writes Happy Hollidays with two ls in many of them accidentally.

OCTOBER

2012

BarkPost.com launches to bring dog stories, videos, and memes to the world.

NOVEMBER

2012

Bark designs, develops, and ships the first BarkMade toy: a bouquet of plush, squeaky flowers.

DECEMBER

2012

@BarkBox publishes its first Instagram post, falling into the dazzling rabbit hole of Internet pup parents.

JUNE

2013

BarkPost hosts a Willy Wonkastyle Golden Bone video contest and flies Watson the Schnauzer out to Bark HQ for the ultimate NYC dog tour.

JULY

2013

BarkPost hosts a Pup-up Adoption Shop in Soho and every single dog went to a furever home that day.

JANUARY

2014

Bark & Co. moves to a larger office designed with the dogs in mind first, humans second. Cartoonist Dave Coverly covers the office in custom illustrations. Office dog Brownie christens the new space with a legendary pee straight into a trash can.