Abdul Kadir Palekar

Abdul’s motto is ‘Animal’s first’ keeping in mind the effect of the human animal bond, Abdul and Zakira are aware they have not pioneered raw feeding. However, their dream is for the Doggobone brand to be a dominant influencer in the way people think about nutrition for their pets.

Abdul is the fourth of five siblings. He is an entrepreneur and an animal lover. Born into a family of master butchers spanning more than 7 decades. His late father Abdul Latief Palekar worked with his late Uncle Abdul Kadir Paleker who was the first person of colour of Indian Decent to produce halaal cold meats on a mass commercial scale in South Africa under the brand name Palmo in the year 1950. Abdul spent most of his childhood growing up in India accompanying his Grandfather into the fruit orchards, rice fields and tending to the farm animals owned by the family. His passion for animals stemmed from a very early age and he would sieze every opportunity to get away from the city just to be in the village with his grandparents.

After matriculating in 1990, Abdul joined the family business and later managed a cold meat manufacturing facility. In 1997 he established a meat wholesaling company and in 2005 he owned a retail butchery in Khayelitsha a township in Cape Town. Abdul has never been known to give up easily. Whilst honing his entrepreneurial skills he followed his passion for animals and seeing the need to provide the best nutrition for his own pets.

In 2006, Abdul walked the path of research and sought advice from various experts locally and abroad. His mentors Rob Mueller from Barfworld U.S.A., Dr Richard Patton from Santa Fe, New Mexico and Carlos Neves from South Africa are world renowned experts in the field of Pet Nutrition. They mentored Abdul and played an integral role in his understanding of Pet Nutrition and why feeding raw worked. Witnessing first-hand the positive effects of raw on his own pets and seeing the need for affordable yet optimum nutrition for companion animals he founded and created Doggobone on 8 March 2006. After having had enough of the meat industry and challenging times, Zakira Palekar joined Abdul as a partner in Doggobone. Forging ahead to take Doggobone to new heights.

In 2014 Abdul stepped down as partner to allow Zakira to head Doggobone. So he could focus on his responsibilities to research, create and consult with clients regarding their pet’s health.

Abdul enjoys cooking, loom knitting and spending quality time with his pets and farm animals. He feels inspired daily by Zakira and their four children who keep him motivated in whatever he does. He also volunteers some time doing community and welfare work.

Abdul is not and has never claimed to be an animal nutritionist he is passionate about what he does. His work is his playground and he learns daily from the clients who contact him and in some cases he taps into the resource of experts available who gladly assist when needed.