How did distributor, Jim Heckel, begin selling raw meat dog food?

In October of 2006 our Golden Retriever, Hannah, suddenly developed a horrible skin allergy. Her belly turned black and looked like leather. She had green mucus coming out of her eyes.

After taking her to the vet and having her on antibiotics for six weeks, her skin allergy was still there.

Sound familiar?

A family member, whose dogs had been using raw meat dog food products, recommended the product to us. Figuring we had nothing to lose, we decided to have Hannah try it for a month.

After 30 days her skin allergy disappeared and has not returned. At that point, we realized what we fed our dog mattered. We wanted to educate others and became distributors for Red Rock Raw.

Why a raw meat diet?

The answer is very simple - we are carnivores (meat eaters) just like closely related animals: coyotes, jackals and wolves. In the wild, you'll find wolves eating big game, such as a moose or elk, earthworms, insects and the occasional berries.

In our bodies, you will not find molars to grind grains. You will also find our intestinal tract is 95% shorter than yours, making it difficult to process grains and fibers.

We also lack your enzyme in our saliva to break starches into sugars, which is why we have more tartar and gum disease while you get more cavities.


The answer is very simple – undamaged enzymes and amino acids! A raw meat diet contains natural digestive enzymes and a nearly-complete amino acid profile (the protein building blocks). Many of the important amino acids and all digestive enzymes are destroyed by temperatures in excess of 120 degrees F.

Most processed and canned pet foods are cooked at temperatures in excess of 212 degrees F. Animals consuming these highly processed foods often become nutritionally compromised and manifest dry and itchy skin, dull coats, weight problems, lethargy, and many more not so obvious symptoms.


Enzymes are essential biological catalysts that enhance the quality and quantity of nutrient assimilation. This allows your favorite pet to conserve its own enzyme energy for other important life enriching health benefits such as longevity.

Wouldn’t we all like our four legged companions to live long, healthy and happy lives?


Is organic beef used in the diet?

I prefer healthy, free range animals to eat - just like my ancestors.

If the meat comes from animals you feel uncomfortable feeding youself and your family, please think twice about purchasing that type of food for me. Animals loaded with hormones and antibiotics could lead to long-term health problems.




There are so few truly organic beef processors that it is impossible to build a market from such small quantities. Red Rock Raw does the next best thing.

Rather than using feedlot beef in our diets (those raised in large numbers and in close proximity, loaded with growth hormones and antibiotics), they procure our meat source from a nearby USDA human grade meat packing plant that harvests retired dairy cows or free ranging beef cows.


How is raw dog food fed to pets?

Our raw meat dog food comes in two forms: frozen patties (pictured below) and 6 lb rolls.