Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Torres.
Vanessa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
About 15 years ago, I adopted my first dog. I’d had pets as a child, but this was my first foray into pet ownership as an adult. I didn’t know much about the adoption process, or what I should be looking for in terms of personality, temperament, energy level or history. Ignorance is bliss, right?! I could never have predicted that this new dog of mine would change my life forever.
I ended up with a young, male German Shepherd that I adopted from a local shepherd rescue. I had no idea what I was getting into! He was challenging, to say the least, and I quickly began researching dog training tips and tricks. I read everything I could get my hands on about animal behavior, psychology, communication and of course, how to build that human/animal bond of love and trust. We signed up for obedience classes, tried playgroups at the dog park and even (attempted) a Canine Good Citizenship test!
Lucky turned out to be an awesome dog who just needed a little extra time and patience – and he gave me the education and experience I needed to discover a new passion in life. About a year later, I knew that I wanted him to have a doggie companion and so I contacted the same rescue, filled out another application and said, “let me know when you have a female.” And, the rest, as they say, is history.
To date, I have adopted six German Shepherds of various ages, genders, and temperaments. Each one has taught me so much about our connection with animals, as well as how to guide, teach and communicate with a species that does not share a common language.
Has it been a smooth road?
The only difficult part of deciding to launch Kibble & Dribble was figuring out how I could turn a personal passion into something I could share with a mass audience. The road definitely had some twists and turns – there were other pet-related projects that didn’t work out – but ultimately, those failures led me to fine-tune my objectives and really hone in on how I could be of service to my community.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kibble & Dribble – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I started Kibble & Dribble as an online magazine where discerning dog owners could read about products, services, and issues of interest, and come away learning something and/or being entertained in a way that I didn’t see reflected in other media.
There’s a lot of really generalized pet content out there being shared on social media that lacks important detail and context. Much of it is click bait intended to generate hits or, basically a glorified ad.
I wanted to offer more meaningful stories, share information about products that I personally use, as well as offer advice that I feel confident giving after years of pet ownership, education and volunteer work. My goal for Kibble & Dribble is to bring together a like-minded community and offer readers valuable content from a reliable source.
I launched The Pawfect Match this year as a service to help people on the front end of the owner experience. After years of informally offering advice and recommendations to friends and colleagues searching for that perfect pet, I noticed that people often under-estimated the process, or fell into the deep end of research and evaluation, which led to a general sense of overwhelm.
Analysis paralysis is real! I saw the need for an objective middleman to guide people towards getting the right pet, at the right time, from the right source. I often use the analogy of buying and selling a house – you could do it yourself but, most of us hire a realtor because we value their professional expertise and, let’s be honest – want to avoid a total disaster.
I’ve built a wide network of volunteers and experts that I’m really proud to know and be associated with. Together, our greatest joy is to see the happy pairing of a dog with a new, loving family.
Any predictions for the industry over the next few years?
The pet industry has grown so much in the past ten years, and I don’t see it slowing down. People are more engaged than ever with their animals and care about their physical and emotional health and well-being.
What I’d really like to focus on is education and policy change. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still work to be done. Our shelters are still over-crowded, there are still too many unscrupulous breeders and puppy mill operators, and our country still lacks affordable housing options for people with large and/or multiple dogs.
In order to do my part, I decided to focus on education and awareness on the front end – by helping people avoid making mistakes when adopting a new pet, getting them off to a good start, and providing helpful tools along the way to ensure a long and mutually rewarding relationship. Eventually, I’d like to offer classes and workshops in a dedicated, pet-friendly space.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kibbleanddribble.com
- Email: info@kibbleanddribble.com
- Instagram: @kibble_and_dribble
- Facebook: Kibble and Dribble
- Twitter: @Kibble_Dribble
Image Credit:
Glenda Suarez Photography
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