Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Whalen
Casey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Pack Canine Holistics was born through my family’s health journey. Through this journey I had come to realize that the skyrocketing rates of chronic and metabolic diseases that we are seeing in humans and canines all leads back to one thing: diet. And, that dogs are facing these health problems at an even greater scale. Wanting to learn more, I got my certification in canine nutrition and became fascinated by the science of nutrition and the crucial role that diet plays in our every day well being. What I had come to realize through my academic studies and independent research was that ultra processed foods are plaguing our dogs (and their humans) with health issues and diseases, and we are being misinformed about standard nutrition and how we should be nourishing the body. I became frustrated by a lot of things I learned about the pet food industry, and it really lit a fire under me to change the narrative. I saw a lot of the same narratives in the human food industry and that there were a lot of people working to lead a change, but not enough people leading the change in the pet food industry (although I feel this movement is growing!). In parallel to my education in canine nutrition, I was also learning a lot about holistic health and the concept of treating your body as one synergistic system. While food is the biggest player in well being, there are many other things like lifestyle, environment, stress, mental and physical health that factor into the wellness equation.
Learning that humans and canines share 84% of the same DNA and the way we metabolize nutrients is very similar, our pack set out to change our diets together and joyfully observed the benefits we felt and saw. We then took it a step further and started to become more curious about where our food was coming from, and that was when I started to learn a lot about natural and regenerative farming practices and how that plays a large role in the quality of our food, and ultimately the quality of our health. Our health starts in the soil, and regenerative farming focuses on holistic land management by creating diversity in the soil and using animals to recycle nutrients and improve soil health through natural grazing patterns. Naturally raised animals who are grass fed and pasture raised, eating a diet that they were biologically designed to eat, have far more nutrients than animals that are industrially farmed. Most of the food we eat today is stripped from these essential nutrients due to the lack of soil health that is not maintained in commercial farming.
My pack consists of Arthur (Chief Tasting Officer) and Storm (Chief Creative Officer), who have both been an inspiration and played a large role in starting Pack Canine Holistics. It takes a pack to raise a pup!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every small business has it’s obstacles, and I always try to look at those obstacles as an opportunity for change and learning. The biggest challenge has been overcoming moments of doubt or failure. When you are learning something new, it is easy to become stressed by or frustrated with things you don’t know or are not typically comfortable with. When you start a small business you are really putting yourself out there. Will anyone be interested? Will they like my product? I started this business because at the end of the day I strongly believe in and am passionate about my mission, and there is no greater achievement for me than knowing I am contributing to a greater cause by helping humans and canines live their best lives, together.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Pack Canine Holistics?
Pack Canine Holistics offers dog food and treats sourced locally from upstate NC & SC farmers that only use regenerative and natural farming practices, meaning the animals live in accordance with nature; eating grass and bugs, never confined, roaming freely in the fresh air and sunshine. Not only am I passionate about educating dog owners about biologically appropriate feeding, but contributing to a greater cause by using my brand and products as a way to educate people and support small local farmers. I firmly believe that re-examining our relationship with our food and where it is coming from is the key to to changing the trajectory of health in humans and canines in this country. Not only does it bring me joy to support local farmers who are committed to this way of farming, but to also support sustainability by utilizing many nutritious parts of the animal that typically get thrown away to create nutrient dense food for dogs. It’s a win-win-win situation across the board: we are helping animals, humans, farmers and the environment. I am passionate about inspiring, educating, and empowering other dog owners and fostering a community of awareness and informed decision making. I believe that we create change through action and sharing what we have learned with others, and I look forward to doing that every single day.
You can buy our products at events and pop up markets in the Greenville area. We post our monthly schedule on social media so you know where to find us. We also have an online shop offering delivery within Greenville city limits, and pick up or meet up for those outside city limits or in Simpsonville.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite memory as a child was rounding up all the dogs in my family and putting them in “school” for the day. I would play with them, train them, teach them tricks, and send my family a report card of each dog at the end of the day. I always knew I wanted to do something with dogs, but was never quite sure what it was.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nourishyourpack.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packcanineholistics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093914393207
