GLOBAL PET FOODS Where Pets Are Part of the Family
By Katrina Geenevasen Photos Evan Ceretti
As pet parents, we all know when we leave the house, our four-legged friends are sitting there ever-so-patiently (or not...!), waiting for our return, eager to heap that unconditional love on us that makes having a pet one of life’s greatest joys. Pets are part of the family, after all, and it’s on this thinking that Global Pet Foods opened its doors to Charlottetown in 2005. The Summerside location, which opened in 2011, follows the same business model. “When we say in our stores that ‘pets are part of the family,’ we mean it,” says Kieran Atkinson-Hardy, business development manager of Global Pet Foods PEI and Newfoundland. “Gone are the days where a pet is simply an animal that lives in your home; our pets are our fur-kids and we believe they should be treated as such.”
The team also understands that being a pet parent is sometimes confusing, and with that in mind, it’s their mission to give advice that will help Islanders find the best solutions to keep their furry family members feeling and looking their best. Building a better bowl continues to be a struggle many pet parents continue to face, explains Atkinson-Hardy. But it’s understandable. “We recognize that pet parents (ourselves included) are busier than ever. For many pet parents, the most convenient option for feeding their pet is a standard scoop-and-serve kibble diet, but it’s important to remember that not all pet food diets are created equal.” Imagine if we were to eat the exact same thing every day for our entire life, he says. Aside from being bored without having any variety, we would
begin experiencing health issues as a result of not getting all the nutrients that come from eating a well-balanced diet. “For this reason, we invite our customers to provide that variety for their pets to help them live their happiest and healthiest lives,” he explains. A survey conducted in part by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association found that obesity is the most serious effect of poor nutrition seen in veterinary practices across the country; in the same survey, pet owners who took part said they were almost twice as likely to purchase pet food based on what their pet enjoys eating versus what will meet their pet’s health needs. So what’s a pet owner to do? Luckily, it’s not all that complicated, so you can breathe a sigh of relief as Fido dozes beside you.
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www.pei-living.ca SUMMER 2021
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