Thankful Friday: For Henry, For You, For Every Dog We Love

Every week this month, we've shared ways to help reduce your pet's risk of cancer - small, simple changes that can make a big difference over time.

We took a deep dive into how ingredients are linked to cancer, and we've provided some simple steps you can take to reduce your dog's exposure to some every day toxins.

These are all changes I wish I had made years ago for Henry Clay and his siblings.

While Henry was the only one of our dogs to pass away from cancer, we also lost three others to neurological conditions.   In my heart, I believe they were all connected to exposures to environmental toxins and over-vaccination. Those four were the original dogs that made up the 4-Legger pack and they were all gone far too soon.  Do I wish I had known at the beginning of their lives what I know now?  Of course I do, but going forward, the best way we can continue to honor their memory is to keep shining a light on the industry-created health problems so many dogs and pet parents are now dealing with.  It’s truly unacceptable what has been allowed to happen to the very species that is without a doubt - man’s best friend. Henry Clay and our other dogs deserved so much better and so do yours..

Those experiences forever changed how I look at the products we use on - and around our furry family members.

Today, as I reflect on this journey, I still feel so many emotions but the prevailing thing is an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

From battling my own breast cancer to spending endless hours researching ingredients in pet shampoo, to building 4-Legger and seeing the incredible response from all of you - our community who love our grooming products and help spread the 4-Legger message every single day… I am thankful.

Thankful that Henry's legacy lives on through every bottle of safe, non-toxic, truly natural dog shampoo and all the other grooming products we create.

Thankful for every pet parent who chooses to make even one small change to protect their dog's health.

And thankful for this amazing community that continues to prove that together, we can change the pet industry for the better.

From my heart to yours - thank you for being part of our 4-Legger family and for honoring Henry Clay's memory by helping us make the world safer, one dog and one bath at a time.

With love and gratitude,

Melissa Boland
Founder, 4-Legger