Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Twila Mcgee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Twila , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The concept of in-home pet care resonated with me in my mid-20s, following the discontinuation of my college studies. This realization stemmed from a troubling boarding incident my now spouse, and I faced. Witnessing our cats’ distress in contrast to their usual calm at home was a turning point. Observing their anxiety, lack of appetite, and trauma prompted me to explore the impact of stress on pets’ well-being, mirroring human experiences. Understanding the significance of in-home care, private pet walking, and sitting,

I established NOLA’s Finest Pet Care LLC upon returning to New Orleans a year later. Seeking a fulfilling career of helping furkids thrive & have a work-life balance, I embraced this venture wholeheartedly, especially after my spouse survived a brain aneurysm and amputations. This path allowed me to support my spouse in achieving educational milestones while remaining passionate about my profession, as I was when I embarked on this journey 11 years ago.

Despite challenges during the pandemic, including losing long-term clients due to its adverse effects, the experience inspired growth. I expanded my business into a pet health and wellness hub, assisting more pet parents in nurturing their furry companions. Through initiatives such as self-paced online courses for pet enthusiasts, human-grade gourmet treats available via DoorDash, and wellness products like dishwasher-safe pet bowls & clean burning candles featuring my New Orleans-inspired artwork, I have further evolved my offerings.

Along with ensuring furkids live their best lives (live happy, healthy, long lives) My mission is to help reduce the pet abandonment rate by providing education and accessibility to proper pet care techniques & affordable pet care. After conducting research and consulting with pet parents & shelter workers while exhibiting at Animal Care Expo, I’ve concluded that the issue stems from a lack of knowledge surrounding pet care and limited access to resources. To address this problem, I’ve created an interactive online course that teaches budgeting, pet care affordability, and other valuable tools for pet parents. Through collaborating with shelters, and rescue groups, I am offering the course for free (valued at $99.99) with the help of sponsorships & grants to both adopters and fosters working with reputable rescues & shelters. This initiative will ease the stress on over-crowded shelters/rescue groups, significantly lower pet abandoned, help fur kids live happier longer lives, and increase pet parent’s mental health.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Your Pet Health & Wellness Destination Established in 2013, NOLAs Finest Pet Care llc is dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of pet health and wellness services to help your furkids thrive. My mission is to offer pet parents the necessary resources to ensure their pets live a long, happy, & healthy life.

I am Twila, the CEO and founder of NOLAs Finest Pet Care LLC, Louisiana’s first Bi, Black, Woman-owned pet health and wellness hub. In addition to being the Ceo & founder, I’m also an artist, pet expert, and fur mom. My business focuses on revolutionizing pet health and wellness to boost furkid’s well-being. For the past 11 years, I have been steadily expanding my business through organic growth.

My specialty are cats & dogs of all life stages, and I welcome pet lovers of all backgrounds & pet care experiences offering top-notch in-home pet care while treating their beloved pets with the same care as my own. Apart from providing in-home care, my business offers virtual self-paced interacting learning opportunities for pet parents to ensure they provide their furry friends with the care they deserve. I also design exquisite ceramic pet bowls inspired by my New Orleans artwork, which are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

These bowls are wellness products in that they are dishwash safe enhancing your pet’s health by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria like salmonella and E. Coli found in regular hand-washed pet bowls. They are also non-tipping to avoid accidents. My locally made gourmet treats, including homemade peanut butter, available for delivery through DoorDash, are aimed to offer pet parents healthier options with recognizable healthy ingredients, conveniently delivered to your doorstep.

LEARN: Training for Humans – a fun, interactive online course designed to teach you about pet care affordability, adopting methods, and other essential materials to help improve your pet’s overall wellness.

SNACK: Gourmet Treats – made fresh with simple human-grade ingredients that are easily identifiable and pronounceable. All treats, including peanut butter, are locally made from scratch by me. If you’re in the New Orleans area, DoorDash will deliver treats to your doorstep or hotel room.

SHOP: Art-Inspired Wellness Products – offering a variety of products for pets and pet lovers, including ceramic dishwasher-safe pet bowls. Our dishwasher-safe feature is crucial because it kills bacteria such as e-coli and salmonella that hand washing cannot. Not all pet dishes out there are dishwasher safe. You can purchase our products online, and we ship within the U.S. only.

STAYCATION: Top Shelf Pet Sitting Services – Your furkid already misses you when you’re at work or out of town, so there’s no need to add to their anxiety by boarding them. NOLAs Finest Pet Care’s private walking and pet sitting services significantly reduce anxiety because there’s no place like home. I keep your pet’s daily routine the same, which is essential for your pet’s mental health.

NOLAs Finest Pet Care LLC stands as Louisiana’s pioneering pet health and wellness hub. Originating as an in-home service for private walking and pet sitting, my business has evolved to include other means to help furkids thrive. My achievements and expertise have been recognized and celebrated in prestigious publications like The Story Exchange, Medium, Disrupt Magazine, The Strategist, Gambit, RealHomes, Pets+Mag, and Yahoo Life! Notably, in 2022, I was a Women in Business Pitch Challenge finalist, and one of Shop Local NOLA’s 12 NOLA area women owned business shaking up the city. In 2023 I received a BIPOC Business Scholarship, which allowed me to exhibit at Animal Care Expo, won 2023 & 2024 Lux Life Magazine’s Best Pet Health & Wellness award & 2024 Founders First CDC National Pride Fund semi-finalist and now Canvas Rebel, just to name a few. Starting this entrepreneurial journey in my twenties, I self-funded my venture after leaving college to pursue my dreams and purpose, defying doubters along the way. I take immense pride in my accomplishments and express deep gratitude daily.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Before the onset of the pandemic, NOLAs Finest Pet Care LLC solely provided in-home pet care services. While this service is still available, the pandemic had a significant adverse impact on my clients and, consequently, on my business. However, the pandemic helped me discover different methods to diversifying the way I can help more furkids thrive & also my income streams to ensure resilience during potential events like hurricane evacuations or pandemics. This realization inspired me to transition my business into a pet health and wellness hub, offering online training for pet enthusiasts, nationwide shipping of wellness products, and gourmet treats accessible on Doordash. Along with other projects in the works.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In my twenties, I bravely decided to step away from college and a career in relationship therapy to venture into entrepreneurship, focusing on enhancing the well-being of pets. It’s not that I struggle with grasping the intricate ways our childhood experiences impact our adult relationships and how to address or change certain behaviors. I excel in this area and often provide guidance to friends & family. However, I sensed a stronger calling towards pet advocacy. This bold move led to numerous opportunities, despite encountering skeptical voices along the way. Despite doubts and discouragement, I embraced the challenge and found fulfillment in my work.
In 2013, I embarked on a journey to establish Louisiana’s first Bi, Black, Woman-owned pet health and wellness hub. Combining my passion for helping pets with my artistic, baking, design, and business skills, I created a much needed and remarkable establishment which has helped many pets & pet parents.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nolasfinestpets.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolasfinestpetcare/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NolasFinestPetCare/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/twila-mcgee-8348b468/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nolas-finest-pet-care-riverridge-2