Check Out Rachel Stahl’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Stahl

Hi Rachel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have loved animals my whole life! I grew up aspiring to be a Veterinarian, but learned early on that being unable to stomach blood would understandably prevent a successful career. So while pets remained a passion, helping and housing them whenever I could, I decided to pursue teaching and earned an education degree from the University of Central Florida. I taught 1st grade for a few years, and also opened and operated a handmade party decor and apparel business through Etsy. It was a creative outlet and a very fun, glitter filled time in my life.

I had left teaching to focus full-time on the Etsy shop when the dog who came to be “Daisy” entered the scene. She was found passed out in front of my house, on what seemed to be her last leg. She had been abandoned and found her way to my yard. She was overweight, riddled with skin issues, and in desperate need of help. After a bath, a safe place to lay, and a few days of nourishment and sleep, she bounced back and became the dog that ignited my canine nutrition journey. She was the sweetest dog with the softest soul, and I went on a mission to get her healthy.

I began focusing on the teachings of integrative veterinarians, herbalists, and holistic pet health coaches and shifted my thinking from feeding dogs dry, overcooked, ultra-processed pellets, to prioritizing clean meat and fresh food. I started incorporating whole foods and natural herbs into all of my dog’s lives, and experienced first hand the positive impact it has on an animal’s wellbeing. I watched all of my dog’s health improve. Daisy, who I didn’t think would live through her first night with me, lost 25 pounds and lived another 5 years!

Life’s changes presented me the opportunity to venture West in 2018, with Daisy and my other dog Bailey. Accepting God’s grace and the chance to start fresh, I sold the Etsy shop and made the intentional decision to begin training professionally in the pet industry. I’ve since had the incredible opportunity to grow in a variety of dog-filled settings, doing customer service, sales, events, merchandising, and digital marketing. I am working towards multiple nutrition certifications, and am focused now on getting healthier options in the hands of more pet parents through building relationships and serving at every level in the quickly evolving natural pet space.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, there have been plenty of bumps and detours along the road! Some within my control, a lot that weren’t, but all things I have tried to learn from. With regard to what I am doing now, I would say a big challenge was completely starting over, down a new path, in a new (to me) industry. I was 31 years old, living across the country from where I had lived my whole life, and went from running my own business to starting over at the “bottom of the food chain” as a part time minimum wage employee. I am incredibly grateful, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that was a big shift. But honestly, I didn’t care! At a time in my life when my biggest prayer was for peace, being around animals on a daily basis and learning about nutrition for them was exciting and interesting! It brought an immense amount of joy to my life during a period of time that I was also navigating a lot of grief. Being able to get back to my passion for animal wellness was a relief in a challenging time, and God’s faithfulness has opened doors I couldn’t have forseen. The obstacles have helped make me a testament for a lot of things, but especially that it’s never too late to start over and pursue your passion.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The mission of Wags and Wellness is to support and serve pet parents, brands, and retailers growing in the natural pet supply space. I believe teaching and learning are lifelong pursuits of action, and I am passionate about educating others to help get healthier options into the hands of more pet parents. I believe in full family wellness, and that includes the furry members!

I operate from a place of understanding that what works for one, may not work for another. Every body is different, with a different set of circumstances. My intention is to meet individuals right where they are, with kindness and compassion, and teach them according to their needs. I want to speak truth with respect for the needs of the person and dog in front of me.

I use my Instagram and Youtube Channel for pet nutrition content to spotlight pet brands, retailers, events, and educational resources. I have a growing online catalog of products I love and want to share with others, and look forward to incorporating nutrition consultations alongside the shop. Wags and Wellness also has an Etsy shop with themed bundles and a growing inventory of downloadable marketing and educational resources for pet retailers.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best about our city is the views. I grew up in Florida, so it was extremely flat! Being surrounded by mountains here and the incredible sunsets that fall behind them are always a beautiful sight to see. What I enjoy the least has to be a common answer, the summers are brutal! That being said, I would take a dry heat over the southern humidity I grew up with any day. Even with the heat, I am very grateful that there are easy drivable “escapes” from the valley just a couple hours away that always provide a little reprieve and change of scenery in those hot summer months. Arizona offers so many beautiful, unique sights, and landscapes. I feel very lucky to live here!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wagsandwellness.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wags_and_wellness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wagsandwellness
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@WagsandWellness
• Other: https://wagsandwellness.etsy.com

Image Credits
The third photo (with hat on) is by Jeff Ross Photography, the rest are Wags and Wellness originals.