It all started with a boxer puppy named Augustine…
June 2024
If you have the time to read this, I’d like to tell you a little bit about my journey to bring you Augustine Approved® products.
And if you don’t mind, I’d like to tell you a bit about the original inspiration behind the brand ‐ my puppy, Augustine the Boxer. Those who know used to make jokes about how much I adored Augustine and like all you animal lovers out there I wanted my best friend to have a long and happy life.
When I adopted Augustine on August 5th 2010, the excitement kicked in and I splurged on what I was advised was high quality food. To my dismay, no matter what commercial dog food Augustine ate, she was plagued with stomach problems and didn’t have the vibrancy expected of a young boxer. Of course, I took her to the vet and followed the recommended commercial diets but three months on she still suffered.
I began to take a great interest in researching the ingredients allowed in dog foods. I couldn’t help but wonder; “How good are these foods for dogs if they are not SAFE for US to eat?” I was astounded that I could not find a single, fresh 100% organic food on the market that was completely balanced and supercharged with more than just the basic nutrients dogs need. I wanted more because I believe a dog’s devotion deserves the best in return.
I was becoming desperate for a solution and felt like I was left with no choice but to solve the riddle of Augustine’s health myself. But what did I know about making dog food? I couldn’t even cook for myself!
Being an outsider to the pet food industry was a positive. You see, back then if you approached any expert in the field of dog nutrition and ask them to create the world’s greatest dog food they would automatically place restrictions on their creativity before they even began. They were concerned about adhering to a budget, shelf life, storage and transportation. To work within the restrictions that they have created in their own minds, they will most likely come up with a dry (kibble) food, or canned food.
There is strong evidence to make the case that the root of all disease is inflammation. For this reason, I do not endorse kibble or canned foods because they are inherently inflammatory. It did not take long to realise that behind fancy marketing campaigns and product labels, were low quality ingredients. I was not ok with Augustine to consume these foods, and especially not for her entire life. I wouldn’t biscuits or canned foods for all of my life, would you?
It soon became my personal ambition to create the world’s greatest dog food - without compromise, so that Augustine and all the wonderful canines out there can enjoy a healthy, happy life and be our companions for years to come. Finally, after extensive trials, Augustine approved the food.
Augustine was born on May 25th 2010, and throughout her life she was healthier, faster, and stronger than other boxers. When she was older it was motivational to watch her not only keep up with 1-2 year old dogs in the park of different breeds, but to also wear them down.
In December of 2013 we welcomed little Faith (another boxer) into our home, and I knew from the moment I saw her that we would become foster failures. Faith was badly abused at her previous home and Augustine wasted no time helping her learn how to be a dog again. In an interesting twist of events, it turns out that Augustine and Faith are related – Faith’s Grandmother was Augustine’s mother!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MISHKA, FAITH & AUGUSTINE
Mishka 10th July 2001 – 3rd June 2018
My dearest little Mishka the Maltese passed away on 3rd June 2018 just a few weeks shy of her 17th Birthday after spiralling downhill, a result of a freak accident. Mishka’s Dog vs Lump videos have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times and she has been an inspiration to many worldwide. Knowing that many people and animals have avoided surgeries as a result of SuperHeal is truly inspirational.
Faith “Pup” 20th January 2013 – 21st October 2023
At 6am little Faith she took her last breath in my arms, hours ahead of an in-house vet appointment. Her heart could not keep up anymore and she is now at peace.
She will always be the puppy that came to us through the Melbourne Pet Ambulance at 11 months of age, a highly anxious and stressed but gentle soul that was the victim of an abusive home. Faith instantly bonded to Augustine and they were inseparable till the last moment. I knew the moment I saw her I was going to be a foster-failure.
Faith had some health issues including incontinence and a severe reaction to a chemical worming product. As a result, we released a product in her honour to offer a natural and effective option so that other dogs and cats would not have to suffer. My beautiful may have left us but her legacy will live on forever.
Augustine 25th May 2010 – 10th March 2024
On 10th March 2024 Augustine passed away in my arms unexpectedly at 11:22pm. Hug your dogs, people, you never know when you will spend your last day together.
Thank you for being a part of our story so far. I hope we have made a positive contribution to yours. It is with great pain that I continue Augustine’s legacy. I made a promise that I intend to honour; by the time I am done, everyone will know her name.
We hope that our story will inspire and motivate you to make dietary and lifestyle changes whose benefits will resonate for years to come.
The Brand: In pursuit of perfection
In time, when you become fully acquainted with the philosophy and reasoning that drives the Augustine Approved® brand, you will realise that I am not messing around. Augustine Approved® is the real deal, with each and every ingredient and process having a specific, demonstrated purpose and benefit for your dog’s health.
What you and your dog are about to experience is the outcome of countless hours of research that I undertook, beginning in 2010, all with one ambitious goal at heart: to give my puppy, Augustine the Boxer, every opportunity to live a long and healthy life.
As I worked towards my dream people started to ask me which ready-made food available in the market would I recommend for their dogs. The simple answer was - and still is - none. While some products show more promise than others, I am yet to find a single brand of dog food that I would be content to feed Augustine. My first recommendation is to prepare fresh nutritious meals at home (using our free recipes to ensure a solid base diet), but I do appreciate that this is not always possible - hence the need for Augustine Approved® products to supplement commercial foods.
This life-changing journey has taught me to have a greater love and respect for all animals. I now strive to show people how, by reducing the consumption of animal products, they can dramatically improve their own health as well as the health of their dogs.
Our range includes the world’s most versatile canine supplement - Augustine’s SuperBoost®, Super Skin Care (human and animal label), Super Ingredients (human label), Healthy Skin Bundles, Super Packs, and Augustine’s SuperFood Starter Kits so that you can make the world’s greatest dog food at home.
Being a bit of a purist and also an advocate of the organic movement, my mission is to create high-quality products only when there is a need for them to exist - nothing more, nothing less. Augustine Approved® products sit well above super-premium dog food brands not only because they far exceed the nutritional needs of canines, nor because they have been produced with a strong focus on the prevention of illness, but because they are so healthy you can eat them too!
We are sincere in wanting to create products that focus on the health and happiness of dogs rather than profit and although a permit is not needed to make food for dogs, Augustine and I insisted that our products be governed by human food standards.
Augustine Approved® supports a number of causes and charities and Augustine Approved® products will never be found in Australian stores that sell puppies. May the bridges we burn light the way.
Augustine, Faith and I are excited to share our journey with you and look forward to receiving your feedback.
- Phivo Christodoulou
Director of Augustine Approved® Pty Ltd
What is an A+ Super Dog?
Simply put, A+ Super dogs are dogs with health and vitality like no other. They go faster, play harder and recover quickly. A+ Super Dogs have nutritionally been given every opportunity to live the longest and healthiest lives possible.
Augustine was the first of a long line of A+ Super Dogs. Now, you too can provide your best friend with a chemical free super-charged diet every day.
When I decide to take the world’s greatest dog food to market, I came across knowledgeable experts which to this day I still regard highly. They all share a common belief that dogs fed a raw meat diet can life a long and healthy life. This may be true, but I am not interested in producing healthy dogs. I was excited at the possibility of raising a new generation of dogs with superior health. We have come a long way since 2010 but one thing remains constant – talk is cheap and results speak volumes.
There are dozens of contributing factors to a long and healthy life. These include:
Diet
Environment
Exercise
Genetics
Dental & overall hygiene
Mental stimulation
Love
We have the base of your dog’s health covered, naturally the rest is up to you.
The A+ Symbol: A sign of supreme quality
The A+ Symbol was created to help you identify supreme health products with ease.
We ONLY promote products that have the best interests of the consumer at heart, so when you opt for the A+ symbol you can rest assured that you are all in good hands.
Before anything we produce is made available it was approved by Augustine and Faith themselves and in our eyes, there is no better endorsement. For all future products we will release, Diesel and Sammy are now in charge of the approval process.
With Augustine Approved products your dog will be eating what Augustine and Faith ate as well as what us humans eat. We regard the responsibility this carries as the highest honour one could ask for in the companion animal industry.
The Original: Often imitated, never duplicated.
When we became the first company in the world to produce 100% certified organic products for dogs under human standards, I knew that it would not be long before others followed suit and I am sincerely happy to see others succeeding.
It’s encouraging to see more and more companies sprouting up that are offering human-grade, certified organic and biodynamic products. The shift back to real food and ultimately real health is in motion and we are pleased to have been there from the outset.
We believe that there is a large enough market for all to prosper while helping animals and people, and if you are reading this and considering entering the health space, we ask that you do you and be original. Please don’t be another company that uses our wording, product names, or tries to copy our formulas… Only the originals survive because without one’s own ideas, there is no genuineness or heart. Our animals and also our fellow people need all the help they can get so if you are considering getting into the health industry, do it for the right reasons.
Our Products: Made with love
Our ingredients (where applicable) are:
100% certified organic
Cruelty free
Irradiation free
Low GI
Premium human grade
Vegan friendly
Wholefoods, herbs or rock minerals
Our products do not contain:
Additives
Chemicals
Colourings
Dairy
Fillers
Flavourings
Gluten
GMOs
Grains
Meat or animal by-products
MSG
Palm Oil
Preservatives
Salts
Sweeteners
Synthetics
Our products (where applicable) are:
Certified organic by ACO and USDA
Clearly marked with their Australian Made / Grown status
Made under and governed by human food standards... so you can enjoy them too!
MasterChops 2015: The most important canine natural-health event in Australia
On November 14th, 2015 a who’s who line-up of canine health and nutrition experts took to the stage at the Melbourne Convention & Entertainment Centre. MasterChops 2015 was without doubt the most important canine event to ever reach our shores. It left a lasting impression on the lucky attendees.
After connecting with the social media superman Rodney Habib (Canada) and “The” Dr. Karen Becker (U.S.) I knew that this event had to happen! From one video conference call it was evident that these two remarkable people were the ones to help me start a national conversation about how to improve the health of our dogs.
I owe the hundreds of people that attended (some from as far as Singapore), our sponsors, our helpers, and our local and international guest speakers a massive thank you for volunteering their time to help educate fellow dog lovers about the importance of fresh food.
How amazing it is when people who would normally be seen as competitors, come together with a common goal - to educate canine parents about health and nutrition. Thank you to Dr. Bruce Syme and Dr. Ian Billinghurst for accepting my invitation!
This was our first major event and a big learning experience. We look forward to coming back with a bigger and better show in the near future.
Charities & Causes
Apart from the nutritional interests we have for animals, Augustine Approved Pty Ltd actively supports a number of local and international animal charities both financially and through product donations. Our long-term dream is to raise funds to build Augustine’s Retreat - a last opportunity no-kill rehabilitation centre for dogs with behavioural issues that prevent them from being put up for adoption.
While most of our charity work is done outside the public eye, here are some causes that we hope you too can contribute to. Please note that we have a personal connection with these people and trust them wholeheartedly.
