Faculty of Nursing alumni Kia and Daniel Pascal have a holistic method to well being care, and people beliefs are the core of a enterprise they’ve created to maintain pets completely happy and wholesome.
The Atlanta couple sells handmade cat toys and connoisseur pet treats made with pure elements by way of Dulces de Luna, which they launched in early 2021.
Kia is initially from Marietta, and Daniel was born in New York and grew up within the Carolinas. Kia all the time knew she wished to be a nurse and attend a smaller non-public faculty in Georgia. She ended up making use of solely to Mercer as a result of she knew that was the place she belonged.
Daniel initially got down to examine biomedical engineering and toured faculties all through the East Coast in quest of the most effective match for him.
“When I got to Mercer, I instantly fell in love. I loved the small feel. I was like, ‘This feels like home,’” he mentioned.
The 2 met on Mercer’s Macon campus in 2010 throughout an occasion hosted by nationwide service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Kia and Daniel seen one another when she stepped in to assist somebody who bought harm throughout a pickup sport. They began speaking, have been relationship two months later, and married in 2014.
Kia graduated together with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012. Daniel took a break from his research to affix the Air Drive Reserve, started the nursing program upon his return, and accomplished his diploma in 2019.
Kia served as a labor and supply nurse, outpatient psychiatric nurse, ladies’s surgical procedure cost nurse and a scientific teacher for the College of North Georgia, whereas Daniel was a journey and working room nurse. Wanting a change of tempo and setting amid the job calls for of the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniel turned a scientific advisor for medical expertise firm Becton Dickinson, and Kia took a job as a phone triage nurse.
By this time, Kia had already began making crochet toys for her cat, Luna, which led to analysis and experimentation with pet meals and treats, she mentioned. Earlier than lengthy, Dulces de Luna launched on Etsy, and the store shortly turned greater than a passion, Daniel mentioned.
The Pascals invested in industrial gear and commenced increasing their product choices. In addition they began promoting merchandise at Georgia festivals and making canine birthday muffins for native shoppers.
Gadgets on the market from Dulces de Luna embrace charcuterie containers for canine and cats, canine biscuits, dehydrated meats, balm for dry paws, and crochet hats and toys for cats. Among the best-sellers are the taco cat toy and bacon jam canine treats.
Dulces de Luna merchandise are totally different from business merchandise as a result of they use as many pure elements and as few components as attainable, Kia mentioned. As an example, the cat toys include straight catnip buds and primarily uncooked cotton because the stuffing. Vitamin E is the one preservative used. For the canine muffins, Kia and Daniel use just one type of flour and duck eggs from native farmers.
“We’ve practiced natural, homeopathic, herbal medicine in my family for a while,” Kia mentioned. “It’s been an important thing in my life. I wanted to expand that to pets too.”
Folks want to pay attention to what elements are within the meals and treats they provide their pets. It’s essential to supply pets with the most effective meals, to allow them to have the most effective life, Daniel mentioned.
“For our pets, if you can do natural treats, natural toys … these things are healthier and help prolong their life,” Daniel mentioned. “We can provide healthy treats with no preservatives. I think that falls back on our approach to medicine as nurses.”
Sooner or later, the Pascals hope to develop their enterprise presence, ship to each state and function distributors at extra festivals, together with out-of-state occasions. Final 12 months, Dulces de Luna gadgets have been bought at two Atlanta-area shops, and the purpose is to increase to others. They’re additionally engaged on creating pure natural treatments for pets.
