If “establish a morning routine” has been on your to-do list forever, you know all too well that being consistent in the a.m. is easier said than done. That was the case for Sierra Yip-Bannicq—co-founder of Brooklyn-based ceramic studio Franca, the brand behind the printed vases, planters, and mugs of your dreams—until her dogs Bowie and Uma became the push she needed.
“I never used to be a morning person, but city dogs need exercise, so we wake up early and I take the dogs to the park,” she says. “It’s a great way to start your day—I get some exercise and say hi to some friends.”
Some of those “friends” are other dogs, but Yip-Bannicq’s co-founder, Jazmin de la Guardia, often meets the group there, too. “That really starts my day right, and brings me to work with a smile on my face,” she says. “Uma and Bowie are kind of the unofficial mascots of Franca.” Uma even inspired one of Franca’s most popular (and cutest) cup and bowl prints, a graphic triangle squiggle for ears plus three dots for eyes and a mouth.
Speaking of dish ware and mouths… another important aspect of any canine or human’s morning routine? Breakfast, of course. For Bowie—who has a sensitive stomach—that means Hill’s Pet Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin, which is an easy-to-digest dog food that contains prebiotic fiber to boost good gut bacteria.
Once the pups are nourished, de la Guardia, Yip-Bannicq, and the rest of the Franca team are able to focus in on their work, but Uma and Bowie are around for any necessary cheering up. “The dogs lift everyone’s spirits—I don’t know what we would do without them,” Yip-Bannicq says.
For more info on Bowie’s easy-to-digest dog food, plus Uma and Bowie’s important role on the Franca team, watch the video above.
Hill's Pet Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin — $65.00
Want more dog-care intel? Click here for tips on feeding like Bowie and Uma, and for more info on finding the right food for your pet’s needs.
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