"It's always been my Mom and me"
I've never met my Dad, but I never knew what I never had and things have worked out just fine. I've always had a love for animals and we were never allowed to have pets in the places we lived, so from day- one I couldn't wait until the day we could.
That happened when I was nine; that's when my Mom and I moved to a little town called Vernon in British Columbia, Canada. We drove across the Rockies in a rented moving van along with my Grandpa in his old Dodge pickup and my Grandma in their family car; all full of everything we owned. My Mom had landed a job as a legal assistant at a local law firm and we settled into a quaint little 600 sq ft house on a big lot near the center of town.
Two weeks after moving in, my Mom bought me a present that I had wanted for a lifetime...a beautiful little black lab-cross puppy, we named him Charley. Finally, after all those years of living in apartments, we were free to have the pets we always wanted.
Charley and I were inseparable and we enjoyed many wonderful adventures together as only a boy and his dog can. At the age of twenty, I decided to dive head first into the world of business and become a full-time entrepreneur. I wrote up a business plan, presented it to a local government-sponsored bank and was approved to manufacture and market 'dog cookies'...Darford was born.
I could write a book about what's happened since then (maybe I will!), but it all comes down to believing in a dream and never giving up. Charley has been gone for a long time now, but the company he and I started together is still going strong and his picture is still on everything we make. But it got me thinking, what if I could find a way to help dogs that weren't as lucky as Charley was? Or my current dogs Sophie and Molly? Plus One is my dream. My mission. One I hope you will share. It's a way to really make a difference in the lives of dogs that need help the most.
For me it's never been about the money, it's about creating something to be proud of. Something from the heart that may just succeed in making a small difference in our crazy world. There is a saying that is common among most of the world's religions and philosophies, its' meaning is simple, yet powerful: "Do unto others as you would have done unto you." I see this simple phrase as a life-long goal for all of us to aspire to. To me it seems that our pets have adopted this wisdom already, perhaps they are here to help us learn our way and to become better at 'being human'?
" We can only hope to achieve as humans what comes so easily from our pets, unconditional love, loyalty and true companionship "
Darcy Bomford. Learn More »
Here's how it works: buy any Darford packaged food or treats and we will donate a meal to a dog in need on your behalf. Visit www.darford.com and you can choose to send a free meal to a dog rescue in your area. Join the Plus One Movement and together we can do this, one meal at a time.
We supply the food. You donate it. Together we make a difference.
How to Donate
Step 1
Buy any packaged Darford treats or Zero/G food.
Step 2
Go online and enter the Plus One code on the back of pack to redeem your free meal.
Step 3
Choose which rescue you would like to send your free meal to. Darford will organize the rest.
Sign Up
Stay connected to the movement; Receive email updates as to the difference we are making together.
Where do I go?
Locate a store near you that's participating in the Plus One Program. Learn More »