Hi, nice to meet you. I'm so happy you're here.
I'm Zilai, Nellie's human, and this is the story behind Nellie Bear's.
Nellie came home with me when she was almost three. At the time, I had just moved to Vancouver, BC, for work. My then-boyfriend, now husband, was still living in Seattle. It was a lonely chapter, and Nellie became my little sidekick through all of it. She kept me company when I was alone and gave me a reason to get off the couch, go outside, and explore. Because of her, I found parks, trails, and little corners of nature I probably never would have discovered on my own.
Nellie also brought so many wonderful people into my life. I met most of my closest friends through her, usually because she wanted to say hi to another dog (or simply wouldn't give up chasing them around the park). She loves her friends, and somewhere along the way, their humans became my friends too.
Nellie has always been very food-motivated. As she got older, her vet recommended a leaner diet, so I started making her treats myself. I feel better knowing exactly what goes into them and being able to choose simple, quality ingredients without unnecessary additives or preservatives. I still want healthy treats to be fun, so I experiment with playful shapes, silly ideas, and tiny batches inspired by foods I love.
That's how Nellie Bear's started, but we're really only at the beginning. Maybe we'll make more than treats one day. Who knows?
For now, I'm making things I love for Nellie and the friends she loves.
Here's to the adventure, and thank you for being part of it.