Our Story

Dave and Austin

I moved to Kelowna when I was 9 years old from Vancouver.  We always had a few dogs, 2 German shepherds.  My parents always took amazing care of our dogs and it showed as they both lived till 17.  This was my first glimpse at why diet and a lot of love goes a long way.

Back in 2005, I bought my first house in Kelowna BC and a best friend of mine moved in as well. His brother's dog just had a litter of eleven puppies and invited us to go check them out. When we got there I was looking around at all these beautiful puppies and only one came up to me. He had the most beautiful eyes. His coat was all black with his two front paws being white. The litter was a mix between a Labrador-Collie and a Rottweiler. I did not plan on bringing a dog home but after seeing this little guy I couldn’t leave without him. My friend and I decided to each take a pup. On the car ride home he threw-up all over the vehicle and that is where our story begins.

I have always loved the name Austin so I knew before I even got him, that was what I was going to name him. Over the next ten and a half years we lived in three cities and have been through a lot together. Everyone always tells me how amazing of a dog I have. He is so well behaved, doesn’t go after other dogs. Doesn’t need a leash to go on walks. He has always made me proud to be a dog owner.

We have our routine every morning which is me getting up first and Austin sleeping in till I call him for breakfast. One morning in September 2017 I got up at 5 am for work. While I was Making Austin’s breakfast I started to call him but he wasn’t coming. So, I went to check on him in the room and he didn’t want to get off his bed. I knew something was wrong so I took the day off and took him to the vet. At the vet we ran a bunch of tests, blood work, and X-rays and the results were he has a cancerous tumor attached to his spleen called Hemangiosarcoma that was the size of a grapefruit. I was told Austin had a max of 3 weeks left to live and that I might want to look at putting him down within the next week or so.

After receiving the news we went home and I’m not going to lie I cried a lot. This had all happened so quickly. After half a day of running it through my mind, I decided I wasn’t going to take the vets advice. I took the next two days off work and started researching online anything people have done for their sick pets. That was when I came across a similar product to Hemp 4 Paws. I had never heard of it so I talked with some people who are familiar with it and decided to give it a go. I started Austin on it and also began him on a raw food diet with a ton of other supplements. I was and still make my own mushroom mixes, juice veggies and fruits.  Well did I ever make the right choice.

My boy passed December 27th 2020.  We ended up getting to spend over 3 more years together which I cherished more than ever.  He was happy and healthy till the end.  It goes to show you that a lot of love and research can go a long way. Austin is the whole reason 'for me' why Hemp4paws was started.  I want to share my stories with others and let people know there is always hope. Though every day I miss him I know he will live on through Hemp4paws and in my heart.

This is why I thought it was important to open a Pet store. My goal is to focus on educating others on why dogs need a proper, healthier diet so the can thrive and live life to the fullest.

Devon Murtagh & Dax the Dalmatian: You are what you eat.

I have no doubt in my mind the truth behind, “you are what you eat.” Being born and raised in the beautiful Okanagan, I have become accustomed to a healthy and active outdoor lifestyle. Fortunately, I was raised in an environment with an emphasis on healthy homemade meals—Thanks Momma! I have, personally, noticed the difference a healthy diet has on day-to-day life. For me, a healthy diet has reduced my weight, increased my energy, and increased my general well-being. Of course, a healthy diet also reduces the risk of certain common health diseases over time. After experiencing so many of these positives personally, I then started to realize that a lot of the common health issues that our pets have are related to poor diet as well. This is why I am a big believer in “you are what you eat,” not only my personal life but also for my fur family. We wanted to open a “market” style pet store with healthier and more all-natural choices so that we could help other fur families achieve a healthier long-lasting lifestyle!