Meet Ronny LeJeune Michelle Lowe | Pet Nutritionist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ronny LeJeune Michelle Lowe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ronny LeJeune, what do you attribute your success to?
Our pets and working animals are a massive part of our society and our daily lives. They provide companionship, therapy, task assistance and safety. More and more, our animals are seen as the valued family member, athlete or partner that they truly are, and people are searching for ways to give them a healthier life and a healthier diet.

Perfectly Rawsome provides nutrition consultation and diet formulation for dogs and cats. Our focus is providing pet owners the means to feed a balanced homemade diet, be it home cooked or raw food. Just as we know fresh food is ideal for ourselves, it has a huge impact on our animal’s health as well. It can be difficult to find knowledgeable professionals in pet nutrition and Perfectly Rawsome strives to be on the cutting edge of fresh food nutrition.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Ronny created Perfectly Rawsome in 2015. Prior to that, she had begun feeding her dogs raw food due to Loki’s health. Loki could not tolerate dry dog food which resulted in hives, hair loss, yeast infections, poor stools and bloody diarrhea. Those symptoms began resolving within 4 weeks of switching to a raw diet. Other pet owners were frequently asking for Ronny’s help in raw feeding. So with a background in web development, Ronny created Perfectly Rawsome as an avenue to provide raw feeding support to fellow pet owners.

We would consider Perfectly Rawsome to be a trail blazer in the raw feeding industry. Our business model is non-traditional with 50-60% of the business being dedicated to providing free educational content on raw feeding and nutrition. The paid services that we offer are a smaller part of the business in comparison.

What excites us most is being able to make a positive impact on the health of cats and dogs. Seeing pets thrive and flourish under our guidance is incredibly rewarding. Not only do we formulate recipes for healthy pets, we also work with sport performance dogs and dogs who need therapeutic diets.

Ronny graduated with a BFA from the University of Lafayette, with a concentration in graphic design. She worked in print production and web development for 8 years, and during this time she began raw feeding Loki. Several factors influenced Ronny’s decision to quit the corporate scene and concentrate her efforts into dog training and building Perfectly Rawsome. She completed the canine nutrition certification from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, as well as several certifications for canine fitness and training. Her background in web development and graphic design was instrumental in creating Perfectly Rawsome.

Building a successful small business was not at all easy. Ronny left a job with a salary. She worked multiple jobs in the beginning which included pet sitting, dog walking, dog training, and Perfectly Rawsome. It took years of hard work to reach the point where she could hire her first employee. I (Michelle) came on at the start of 2020 as Ronny’s remote administrative assistant. While I was also certified in canine nutrition, I did not being formulating recipes until 2021. I had also left a higher paying job to move to Colorado and pursue my passion. Initially I worked another part-time job in addition to being Ronny’s administrative assistant. At the end of 2020 I took the leap of quitting my 2nd job in the hopes that Perfectly Rawsome would grow to fill the void, and allow me to work from home. Since then, we’ve seen a phenomenal amount of growth and have hired 3 more people onto the team, all of whom work remotely across the US and Canada.

As far as lessons learned along the way, Ronny would say to acknowledge your weaknesses and trust in your team. You cannot have a successful business without happy and capable employees. Hire professionals where needed, such as a good CPA. Learn good time management skills.

I (Michelle) have learned that a healthy work environment matters more to me than whether I am passionate about my job, but having both is the icing on the cake. I consider Ronny and the rest of our team to be personal friends, even though we all work remotely. We treat each other with mutual respect and care, and I value that more than the job itself. My hope is that more employers see the benefit in going the extra mile to truly care for their employees well, paying them well, and allowing the flexibility to work from home whenever possible. Listening to your employees gives you the information you need to have happy employees.

We want world to know that feeding fresh food is ideal for our companion pets and working animals. Our brand challenges the status quo of processed pet food, and gives pet owners the tools they need to feed a balanced raw or cooked diet at home.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since Perfectly Rawsome is an online business, our team is spread across the US and Canada. Michelle and her husband currently live near Durango, Colorado.

Michelle: There are tons of beautiful places to hike, mountain bike, river raft and ski. Wolf Creek has some of the best snow in Colorado for skiing and snowboarding. Durango has the historic Narrow Gauge Railroad, which runs from Durango to Silverton through the San Juan National Forest and multiple “13ers”, which are mountain peaks that are 13,000 feet or more above sea level. Within driving distance is Mesa Verde National park, where you can see the Native American cliff dwellings. Multiple hot springs dot the area in Pagosa, Durango and Ouray. My favorite spots to eat in Durango would be El Moro Spirits and Tavern, and Primi Pasta & Wine Bar. Additionally, the Bookcase and Barber is a unique stop for drinks. It is a prohibition-era themed bar situated in the back of a barber shop and you must know the “secret” password to get in. For accommodations, my husband works at the historic Strater Hotel on Durango’s Main street, which offers a unique hotel experience right in the heart of downtown Durango.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Ronny: Ever had a dog that had a profound change on your life? Loki is that dog for me. I was blessed to have him enter my life to teach me everything I know today. I fundamentally owe everything to him. Perfectly Rawsome would not exist if it wasn’t for Loki. He was the inspiration and fire that fueled the birth of this company and we would not be where we are today without him. Rest in peace Loki.

Michelle: My life has had multiple twists and turns. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my husband, my family and my dog’s breeder. The journey into raw feeding and canine nutrition began with my Ibizan Hound Ahava and her breeder, who sparked my passion for canine nutrition and fresh pet food. However, my passion would not have turned into a career without the support of my family and my husband.

Website: www.perfectlyrawsome.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/perfectlyrawsome

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perfectlyrawsome