Original Post #3: Healthy Eats for our Furry Friends

Rachel Ray became a celebrity through her famous 30-minute meals segment on the Food Network. She mastered the need to put a home-cooked dinner on the table after a long day at the office. She coined phrases like EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), sammies (sandwiches), and stoup (stew/soup combination). As she whipped up a meal while teaching amateurs how to cook, she would tell stories about her beloved rescue pitbull, Isaboo.

In Chapter 9 – Embracing the Groundswell, we learn about George and his dog, Pooch. Like Rachel, George is a dog lover who identifies with Del Monte’s “dogs are people, too” community. I am sure you know plenty of dog-lovers who associate their pets as family members and treat them as good, if not better, than people.

“When I look at Isaboo, I’m reminded of all of the folks who see their pets as family members. She is my daughter. I only want to feed her the best quality food,” says Rachel Ray. She’s spoiled! I mash together ground beef, pork, barley, carrots, and bacon, and top the cake with roasted beets and cream cheese,” Ray said. “Isaboo is licking her lips by the time it comes out of the oven.”

After mastering the 30-minute, home cooked meal, Ray expanded her recipes to pet food. Her brand, Nutrish, is made with real, nutritious ingredients that are part of a well-balanced human diet -  lean meats, carrots, peas, and apples - you can feel good about what you’re feeding your furry children. Rachel uses the Groundswell by creating an engaging community for fellow dog- and cat-lovers to share, learn, listen, and join in on the conversation. She employs Facebook (a page for cats and one specifically for dogs), Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and a blog. The Instagram posts feature hundreds of pet lovers with their animals and some posts are simply a selfie of their beloved companion. Nutrish engages with their social media communities on a regular basis by responding to questions and thanking their customers for feedback. They also comment on how cute a pup is when photos are shared by the Groundswell.

Do you know there is even a pet emoji creator? Who knew! As a result of connecting with their groundswell community, Nutrish developed their very own pet emoji creator. What a fun, cute way to have Fido or Fifi join the emoji world within social media. Let's face it, many pets have their own Instagram and Facebook profiles. Based on the product research, the passionate community they have built, and the numerous positive ratings from their customers, Nutrish has made its way to my weekly grocery list.