No matter what you call it — chunks, bits, bites, or kibble — the stuff in your pet’s bowl is brown and boring. To Michele Wallace, though, it’s a microcosm of the global food supply.

Wallace opened Prohund Pet Specialty to provide the Twin City’s dogs and cats with ultra-holistic cuisine made from human-grade, domestically sourced ingredients — the kind she had trouble finding in mart-type pet-supply stores. By stocking foods that are manufactured to the highest standards in domestic production facilities, Wallace is able to keep her customers informed about formulation changes and recalls, while keeping their beloved pets happy and healthy.

“People want to know where their food comes from, and they also have concerns about what they’re feeding their pets,” she explains. “Because there’s such a lack of regulation in the pet-food industry, you don’t know what is really in it unless you ask.”

With a degree in animal health and more than 10 years of experience in the veterinary industry, Wallace is well-qualified to guide pet owners toward the best choice of foods for their furry friends. She says her customers are fellow label-readers who want to provide top-notch nutrition for their pets, some of which have struggled with digestive problems or food allergies.

“I pay close attention to the nutritional value of the ingredients, as well as where those ingredients are being sourced from,” Wallace says. “That way I can feel comfortable selling these products and my customers can feel comfortable with what they’re feeding their pets.”

A self-proclaimed “dog junkie,” Wallace claims she’s “owned” by her German Shepherds, Ansa, 4, and Bear, 12. And from the moment you step inside her shop, it’s clear that an animal lover built the business. Treats and toys are displayed on shelves just high enough to prevent a four-legged customer from sampling the merchandise, while flyers posted with the hope of finding homes for less fortunate pets catch the eye.

Wallace has close ties with local rescue groups and has sponsored food donation drives benefiting AARF and Forgotten Felines of Forsyth. Plans to host more pet adoption fairs are in the works, too.

As the store approaches its first anniversary in August, Wallace says she dreams of expanding to make room for a self-service dog wash “for purely selfish reasons.”

But in the meantime, the entrepreneur notes that she’ll continue to put pets’ nutrition needs first. 
     
Prohund Pet Specialty is at 2731 Lewisville-Clemmons Rd. in Clemmons. For more information, go to http://www.prohundpet.com or call 336-778-9007.