Mercer nursing alumni create pet business with holistic values

Higher education of Nursing alumni Kia and Daniel Pascal have a holistic method to well being care, and all those beliefs are the main of a small business they’ve developed to continue to keep animals delighted and nutritious. 

The Atlanta pair sells handmade cat toys and gourmet pet treats created with organic ingredients via Dulces de Luna, which they launched in early 2021.

Kia is initially from Marietta, and Daniel was born in New York and grew up in the Carolinas. Kia always realized she desired to be a nurse and attend a smaller sized non-public college in Georgia. She finished up applying only to Mercer for the reason that she understood that was where she belonged.

Daniel at first established out to examine biomedical engineering and toured colleges in the course of the East Coast in lookup of the finest fit for him.

“When I received to Mercer, I right away fell in adore. I cherished the smaller sense. I was like, ‘This feels like residence,’” he explained.

The two fulfilled on Mercer’s Macon campus in 2010 all through an party hosted by nationwide assistance fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Kia and Daniel discovered just about every other when she stepped in to assist an individual who received damage for the duration of a pickup recreation. They started out speaking, had been relationship two months later, and married in 2014. 

Kia graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012. Daniel took a split from his research to be a part of the Air Drive Reserve, started the nursing application upon his return, and concluded his diploma in 2019. 

Kia served as a labor and shipping and delivery nurse, outpatient psychiatric nurse, women’s operation cost nurse and a medical teacher for the College of North Georgia, while Daniel was a journey and functioning place nurse. Seeking a alter of speed and setting amid the work requires of the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniel turned a medical expert for medical know-how enterprise Becton Dickinson, and Kia took a position as a phone triage nurse.

By this time, Kia experienced currently started off making crochet toys for her cat, Luna, which led to study and experimentation with pet food stuff and treats, she mentioned. Before extensive, Dulces de Luna released on Etsy, and the shop immediately grew to become a lot more than a passion, Daniel mentioned. 

The Pascals invested in industrial devices and began expanding their item choices. They also began promoting products at Ga festivals and earning canine birthday cakes for local purchasers.

Products for sale from Dulces de Luna contain charcuterie boxes for canines and cats, dog biscuits, dehydrated meats, balm for dry paws, and crochet hats and toys for cats. Some of the very best-sellers are the taco cat toy and bacon jam pet dog treats. 

Dulces de Luna items are various from business items simply because they use as a lot of organic substances and as few additives as feasible, Kia mentioned. For occasion, the cat toys comprise straight catnip buds and generally uncooked cotton as the stuffing. Vitamin E is the only preservative employed. For the doggy cakes, Kia and Daniel use only one particular variety of flour and duck eggs from regional farmers. 

“We’ve practiced all-natural, homeopathic, herbal medicine in my family for a although,” Kia mentioned. “It’s been an crucial factor in my lifetime. I required to expand that to pets way too.”

Folks will need to be conscious of what ingredients are in the foods and treats they give their pets. It is significant to provide animals with the ideal foodstuff, so they can have the best daily life, Daniel reported. 

“For our pets, if you can do normal treats, pure toys … these matters are more healthy and assist lengthen their lifestyle,” Daniel reported. “We can give balanced treats with no preservatives. I believe that falls again on our technique to medication as nurses.”

In the long run, the Pascals hope to increase their business presence, ship to every single point out and provide as vendors at extra festivals, including out-of-state events. Last yr, Dulces de Luna items have been sold at two Atlanta-space suppliers, and the goal is to expand to many others. They are also doing work on developing normal herbal remedies for pets.