Meet Maui 🐾

Hi, I’m Rebecca, and that sweet girl in the photos with me is Maui, the pup who started it all.

What began as simply trying to make mealtime better for my incredibly picky dog eventually grew into Maui’s Meals. After years of preparing Maui’s food myself and seeing just how excited she became for mealtime, I knew I wanted to share what I was making with other dogs and their people.

Today, Maui’s Meals has grown into a licensed Texas pet food business offering fresh meal mixers and simple-ingredient treats, all inspired by the little black-and-white pup who started it all. 🐾

Maui's Story

On February 17, 2019, I walked into St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey, fully intending to bring home an 8-week-old puppy named Gabby.

While walking through the shelter, I passed a quiet black-and-white, 5-month-old puppy named Lady Luck. She had been there for five days and was patiently waiting for visitors to stop by with treats. I said hello, gave her one, and continued on to meet the puppies I had originally come to see.

That plan lasted approximately five minutes.

I decided an 8-week-old puppy might not be the best match for my small apartment, so I went back and asked to meet Lady Luck instead. The moment we got into the Meet & Greet room, I discovered just how sweet and loving she was. When another volunteer knocked on the door to let us know another family was waiting to meet her, I immediately knew she wasn’t meeting anybody else. She was coming home with me.

I learned that Lady Luck had been found as a stray in Mississippi. Her history before that was unknown, but just like that, I was momma to the sweetest little southern belle, and Lady Luck became Maui. 

From the beginning, Maui was never particularly food-motivated. She was incredibly picky about both meals and treats, and whenever I found a food she liked, she eventually seemed to get bored with it. I cycled through different brands and combinations of wet and dry food, but nothing seemed to hold her interest for long.

Eventually, I started researching fresh-food alternatives and experimenting in my own kitchen. What began with simple chicken and rice gradually turned into learning more about ingredients, preparation, and creating meals Maui would actually be excited to eat.

Over time, I kept refining what I made for her. And something pretty wonderful happened: Maui started getting excited about mealtime.

Friends and family began asking about the food I made for her, what I used, and how I prepared it. Eventually, the little routine that started in my kitchen for one ridiculously picky dog grew into something much bigger.

And Maui’s Meals was born!

Today, that same idea is still at the heart of everything we make: real, recognizable ingredients, thoughtfully prepared meals and treats, and food dogs can actually get excited about.

All because I walked into a shelter looking for Gabby.... and walked out with Maui. 🐾