Kelly Gray Interview by Alex Malinsky

1.) Introduce yourself and what are some of your goals that you would like to achieve?

My name is Kelly Gray, I am a certified Raw Food Nutrition Specialist, Raw Chef, Raw foods Coach, Personal Trainer and Holistic Animal Care Consultant. I have a business called RawBLISS, in which I give nutritional consultations, teach clients how to make delicious raw food dishes and motivate/ help them to make a successful transition to a living foods diet. An important branch of my business is RawBLISS4Pets, in which I offer raw nutrition and holistic care consultations for pets, teaching how to prepare a biologically raw food diet for pets (lots of recipes included!), information on the danger of vaccines and other holistic care options, referrals to top holistic vets and much more. I have 9 years experience in the natural health field, follow a raw diet myself and am extremely dedicated to the living foods lifestyle. I have rescued numerous sick cats and dogs over the past 8 years, raising them all on a home-made raw diet and have watched them all transform into beautiful, healthy animals.

2.) What's really in cooked pet food? and why is it bad for dogs, cats, etc.?

Cooked “pet food” is a far cry from the wholesome nutrition our beloved pets
need! It is made from a variety of unscrupulous ingredients. Basically anything NOT fit for human consumption makes up the bulk of dried kibbles and canned “foods”. These ingredients include: cancerous/diseased animal organs/tissues, rancid oils and grains, sawdust, feathers, ground up chicken feet, sugar/corn syrups, toxic chemicals (propylene glycol, ammoniated glycyrrhizin, propyl gallate, ethoxyquin, BHT, Sodium Nitrites etc.), pesticides, antibiotics, hormones and other drugs given to livestock before slaughter, artificial flavors, preservatives and dyes.
These are obviously not ingredients that will sustain life and promote a high level of health in our pets. Years of feeding our pets these “foods” results in a toxic accumulation in their bodies, nutrient deficiencies and results in the formation of cancers and other chronic diseases.

3.) What's the best food for a cat and dog?

The best food for a cat and dog is a biologically appropriate diet of raw meats, bones and vegetables. This is the diet mother nature intended. This is the natural diet of every “wild” cat, dog and wolf on the planet and in the natural kingdom, chronic diseases and cancers are rare. I have seen first hand the powerful impact of feeding a raw diet to cats and dogs. Many of the animals I’ve rescued were extremely ill with bordetella, pneumonia, severe feline upper respiratory tract infections, arthritis, digestive other disorders and ALL of them are beautiful healthy animals today. Preparing a balanced raw food diet for your pets is only a matter of learning. It is not overly expensive or difficult to do, will improve your pets health and quality of life and could save you a ton of money in vet bills. A living food diet is key in both preventing and overcoming dis-ease for both ourselves and our pets.

4.) Are there any books on raw food for pets?

There are numerous books on raw food for pets including: Dr. Pitcain’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, Celeste Yarnell’s: Natural Cat Care and Natural Dog Care, Dr. Billinghurst’s books “Grow your Pup on Bones”, “Give your dog a bone” and many more. There is also a lot of valuable information on the web. If you are looking for more in-depth or case specific information, I would love to assist you and can be reached for consultations by phone.

5.) How does one get their pet started on the raw path?

To get your pet started on the raw path it is important to learn as much as possible about preparing balanced raw food meals to make sure your pet is getting everything that they need. Depending on the size of your animal and any specific health problems they may have, the diet may have to be adjusted. When feeding your dog raw meaty bones, for example, some dogs who tend to “gobble”/ not chew their foods, may do better with the bones ground up with the meat. This goes for smaller / toy dogs, as well. Every animal is different, though their basic natural diet is the same. There are many ways to transition even the most finicky eaters to a raw diet and this, too, is a matter of finding out what works best for your animal. I often recommend adding small amount of the new food to the old canned/kibbles, gradually decreasing the amount of the old food over time. Though, there are some animals for which fasting is necessary to make the transition and some who take to the new food right away.

6.) What does BARF stand for?

BARF stands for a biologically appropriate raw food diet or often bones and raw foods. BARF is most often associated with the already made raw cat and dog “BARF” foods created by Dr. Billinghurst. Some people are more comfortable with buying these foods already made, while some prefer to save money and know exactly what their pets are getting, by making it themselves.

7.) Is it ok if one wants to feed their pet a raw vegan diet?

I do not recommend feeding a raw vegan diet to either cats or dogs. Cats are obligate carnivores by nature and require meat to survive. For example cats go blind without the amino acid Taurine found in meats. Dogs I will arguable say are more Omnivorous and do not require as much raw protein as cats. Dogs are still really “miniature wolves” and a diet of raw meats, bones and vegetables is still the ideal and most natural diet for them for optimal health. I know there are stories of numerous dogs out there being raised on a vegetarian (not vegan) diet and while this may be possible to do, I don’t recommend it and don’t believe that it will sustain optimal health in the long-term. I once had a cat who refused to eat meats, but once she was switched to a completely home prepared diet of RAW meats, she took to it right away.

8.) What else do pets need besides a proper diet?

A proper diet of living foods is KEY to creating a high level of health in our pets and preventing dis-ease. But, of course, there are many other things that they need. Foremost, LOVE, affection, warmth, toys and play. In addition, access to pure water at all times, teaching good habits / socializing when they are young and regular exercise are all essential. I grew up in a small community where dogs, most often beagles, are chained or caged outside, ignored and neglected accept for those few days during the year that they are used for hunting. This was heartbreaking and cruel. This “it’s just an animal” mentality only served to fuel my passion for animal rights, my love for animals, taking rescues and research into the best possible holistic care options and natural diet for them.

9.) Do you recommed adding raw supplements or "superfoods" in a pet's diet?

Yes, I recommend supplementing your pets diet. There are a few supplements that I consider absolutely essential when making any pet food recipes, which include: a quality calcium supplement (if using meats ground without bone) such as human-grade purified bone-meal powder, Essential Oils (olive, flax, Omega 3-6-9 Oils, fish oils or hemp), Buffered Vitamin C powder and Vitamin E (antioxidants and natural preservatives), kelp powder (for minerals) and B-Vitamins. Cod liver oil once weekly, superfoods (greens), wheat or barley grass powders, MSN powder are great additions to your pets diet, as well.

(*I also would like to note that despite feeding a nutrient dense raw diet that many animals have been damaged by “routine” vaccinations resulting in chronic problems which often necessitate consulting with a Holistic/Homeopathic Veterinarian)

10.) What are some of your current projects and where do you see the world in the next 5 years?

In the next five years, I hope to see more “consciousness” in the world with more people becoming aware of how their actions/choices affect other people, animals and our planet. I think that the raw foods lifestyle and health “movements”, in general will continue to grow as more and more people want to become well and take control of their own health.
My current projects involve expanding my business RawBLISS and RawBLISS4Pets, launching other websites I am working on, getting my online store up and running, and helping as many people and pets as possible to attain the radiant level of health that is all of our birthright! My near future plans involve the creation of a raw foods retreat/healing center and large Holistic Animal Sanctuary.

Kelly currently offers in person consultations in the Ottawa, ON area and is also available for Consulatations by phone. She can be reached at : (613) 233-8169 or by email at: info@rawbliss.net.
Check out her site at: WWW.RawBLISS.NET and watch for her upcoming site: WWW.RawBLISS4Pets.Com.