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By Mandy Haggerson

For the Clemmons Courier

Small business owner Phil Ray is excited that his vision to help dogs have better nutritional access continues to resonate within our community. The owner of the natural food store, Best 4K9, was thrilled to finally bring a location to Clemmons right next to the Lowes Foods and Staples store several weeks ago.

“Our grand opening will be this weekend on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.,” Ray said. “We’ll have lots of fun activities and vendors on site to commemorate this moment along with the Lewisville-Chamber of Commerce for the official ribbon cutting ceremony. It will be fun for humans and dogs alike.”

The lifelong dog lover has always had an innovative spirit. After serving 20 years in the fire service Ray took a chance and opened a large distribution center in Miami, Florida.

“I’ve got an entrepreneurial mindset, and I decided to pair that with my love for pets,” Ray said. “Our family has always valued nutrition and health, so with my background I focused on providing highly nutritious options for pets. My distribution center shipped the food to three different states primarily.”

With business booming, Ray and his wife, Mariela decided to make a move that placed family first. Mariela’s mom had fought cancer, and they wanted to be closer to her in North Carolina.

“To say that I am passionate about educating and providing a source for quality food for pets is an understatement,” Ray said. “You can’t trick people with nutrition. It either works or it doesn’t. We like to do a label challenge. Bring us your label of your pet’s current food, and we will educate you on how to read it. We really take pride in customizing the nutrition plan to your pet’s needs.

“We started with stores in Greensboro, Oak Ridge and in the Robinhood area. We had many customers coming in from Lewisville and Clemmons who often voiced their need to have a location closer to them. Surviving COVID-19 really proved to us the real demand in providing nutritional options for dogs.”

When choosing to work with companies, Ray likes to travel and visit the factories where they are produced.

“I like to know the ins and out of the company that I am considering,” he said. “I want to know how it is made, who owns it, how many generations have helped ensure the quality of their brand and analyze all of the ingredients found on the label. I believe in transparency, and I want to say with certainty to my customers what they can expect quality wise. The relationship people have with their pets is special. I understand that and respect them putting their trust in me.”

Part of what Ray enjoys so much is improving a dog’s overall health.

“We love looking at ways to improve their overall gut health,” he said. “One way to do that is by analyzing what is being put into the dog’s bowl. From there we can discuss ways to improve what they are eating on a regular basis with varying their proteins through a program we call our rotational dieting. There is always someone at our store who acts as an ambassador for the dog, because no two dogs are alike, and neither are their needs.”

The quality of the diet is Ray’s focus, so is the enjoyment of the food for the dog.

“We like to figure out why the dog is eating what it’s eating,” Ray said. “Sometimes, people will get a food from 7 years ago and never switch it out of routine. However, if your dog had a tummy issue that has since resolved, and they are still on the inferior food, it can cause more harm than good. So, we will do a plate challenge to see what flavors the dog will gravitate towards at different times. Even if a dog is overweight, we can get them on a diet to help them reduce weight which subsequently improves mobility.

“There is nothing online that comes close to offering such customized options for your dog. And we are honored to be your dogs’ advocate today, tomorrow and down the road.”

Several of Ray’s clients have been with him for several years and communicate remotely with him to discuss making changes to their diets.

“We can work remotely if that’s easier,” Ray said. “Even though we really get to know the dog, we know their needs can change, and we’re always able to tailor that for them. I’m excited that we’re now going to reach even more dog lovers in our community. Our Clemmons location will be the biggest one yet, and that is exciting for us to continue educating and improving the longevity of our furry best friends.

“We hope to see you this Saturday from 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at 2513 Lewisville Clemmons Road.”