In the past 12 months, Americans have spent over 60 billion dollars on their pets. Almost half of that, 30 billion dollars, was spent on food.

If you’re a dog owner, or if you’ve been in a pet store lately, you know that we don’t feed dogs a 45 pound bag of $3 dog chow any more.The dog food section of the pet store these days looks more like Whole Foods. Words that have never before been associated with dogs – gluten free, lamb, duck, all-natural, and heart-healthy – are everywhere. And then there’s the dog treats. See if you can even find the old Milk Bone dog biscuits these days amongst the myriad of jerkies and dental chews. If you’re in New Orleans you can even find local New Orleans specialties for your dog, with names like Shrimp Gumbones, Fleur des Snaps, and Louisiana Yard Dog.

These all natural, healthy, NOLA-themed dog treats are made by a local company called Amis Des Paux, the full time business of co-founders Sarah Johnson and, Peter’s guest on Out to Lunch, Kelly Frisch. 

Whatever a dog eats, whether it’s garbage off the street or a fabulous New Orleans themed treat, it’s going to end up in the same place. Whatever the dog doesn’t use for nutrition, ends up on the ground as a pile of excrement. What happens to that pile of waste next is, pardon the expression, up for grabs.

Locally, there’s a specialist waste removal company only too happy to grab it. No Doody Pet Waste Removal is the brainchild of New Olreanians Ashley Hauck and his wife Courtney.

Ashley is one of those guys you sit down to lunch and just marvel at his story. His company is a United States Military Veteran owned and operated company because Ashley is a bona fide US Navy hero who spent his service life saving people at sea. How he got to be picking up dog poop after a life in the military is right out of a Hollywood story. No Doody Pet Waste Removal’s clients range from veterinarians to private schools to homeowner’s associations. 

Photos at Commander’s Palace by Alison Moon.