In Jackson Hole, we know that great food fuels great adventure. We obsess over sourcing. We talk about protein, provenance, and peak performance. And at Pack Ritual (formally K9 Kitchen), Maylee Sands is bringing that same gourmet-forward philosophy to the valley’s four-legged athletes.
What began nearly a decade ago as a kitchen-table solution for her aging dog has grown into a thriving local business rooted in whole ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, and flavors that are—according to many enthusiastic pups—truly drool-worthy.
From One Dog’s Diet to a Valley-Wide Favorite
“We have two dogs,” Sands said. “The older one is Julius—he’s 15. And then our younger one, she’s four. Her name’s Moose.”
It was Julius who started it all.
“Almost a decade ago, we started cooking for him. It really came out of a place of need,” Sands said. “He was having some gut issues; we tried a couple different diets. It just didn’t work.”
So Sands began with the basics—chicken and rice—slowly layering in additional ingredients. The results were immediate.
“We really noticed what a difference fresh food makes,” she said.
There was just one small complication.
“He wouldn’t go back to regular food. And so we’re like, oh gosh, we’ve created a problem for ourselves.”
Friends and family soon began asking for the same meals. Farmers market booths followed. What began as a scrappy side project quickly gained momentum at the Jackson Hole Farmers Market, Alpine Farmers Market and Jackson’s People’s Market—the kind of organic growth that happens fast in a small town.
Thoughtful Ingredients, Local Sourcing
Since June 2025, Pack Ritual has evolved from passion project to polished brand. Sands partnered with an R&D team to ensure every recipe meets whole-and-complete meal standards.
The result: thoughtfully formulated fresh meals and, more recently, freeze-dried options designed for shelf stability and nationwide shipping.
Still, the heart of Pack Ritual remains local.
Sands sources beef from regional ranches including Mead Ranch, Jackknife Ranch in Star Valley and Linn Ranch near Wilson.
“We like to take those parts, particularly the beef heart and the beef liver, and incorporate that into our recipes,” she explained.
It’s a nose-to-tail approach that reduces waste while delivering nutrient-dense protein.
A Little More Pep on the Trail
The results show up quickly—in the bowl and on the trail.
“It’s just an increase in energy,” Sands said of the feedback she hears most frequently from pet parents. “We have a lot of customers with senior dogs that just have a little more pep in their step.”
One customer returned to the market astonished: her older dog, previously reluctant to walk a single block, had suddenly circled the entire neighborhood with ease.
Of course, fresh food can also create a few unintended side effects.
“I’ve created lots of problems for my customers,” Sands laughed. “Some people have said that once they tried our food, their dogs just won’t go back to regular kibble.”
Other dogs eat with such gusto that their humans have been forced to invest in slow-feeder bowls.
Making Fresh Food More Accessible
But beneath the humor is something deeply intentional.
Pack Ritual partners with PAWS and offers custom local meal plans to help offset cost concerns in a region where everything runs high.
“Being able to feed your dog this kind of food is, of course, a privilege,” Sands said. “I want to make it accessible—financially accessible and physically accessible.”
She encourages locals worried about affordability to reach out. Pack Ritual works with families to create custom meal plans that fit their budgets.
In a valley defined by endurance—on singletrack, on river miles, on high alpine trails—it only makes sense that our dogs should be nourished with the same care we give ourselves. At Pack Ritual, performance nutrition and peak flavor isn’t just for people. It’s for Julius, for Moose, and for every pup ready to sniff out the next adventure.
