Driven by a passion for animal welfare, actress Katherine Heigl shares her commitment to pet wellness and the impact of proper nutrition and mental care.
You’re a passionate advocate for animal welfare. What first sparked your interest in promoting pet wellness, and how has it developed over time?
I’ve always been into more natural remedies when it comes to certain health issues, but it definitely took off during the pandemic when I was really focused on finding ways to keep my family healthy. I’ve had dozens of dogs over the years, so I’ve seen a myriad of health issues. I’m a big fan of adaptogens and different herbs, and I wondered if there were things that I was using that could help my dogs, too. It was those things combined that led me to start my own premium dog food brand called Badlands Ranch, which I named after my own ranch here in Utah.
Pet wellness includes nutrition, exercise, and mental health, but what aspect do you think is often overlooked when it comes to a pet’s overall well-being?
I think mental health is something that’s definitely been overlooked for people, and of course that applies to animals as well. I believe our pets can sense how we’re feeling and our energy, so it definitely can affect how they are feeling. Anxious pets are often ones who have anxious parents!
With the holiday season approaching, it’s easy for pets to overeat or miss out on proper nutrition. How do you keep your pets on a healthy diet during this time?
It’s a challenge for all of us! I try to keep all the dogs consistent with their normal meals, but if I know that they’re going to be getting some special treats such as turkey from the table or something, I’ll try and cut their normal food down just a bit.
Some pet owners are hesitant to invest in pet insurance. What would you say to them about the importance of having that extra protection for their pets?
I would say that each person knows their pet and finances best, so they should make the best decision for themselves. I definitely know that vet bills can become overwhelming, especially since I have multiple pets and have seen all sorts of health issues and emergencies come up over the years.
How do you balance your career with your advocacy for animal welfare? What drives you to continue this important work?
I have the freedom at this point in my life where I can turn down a role if it doesn’t fit within my parameters (a.k.a it takes me away for long periods of time from my kids). In my more recent career of being the founder of Badlands Ranch, it directly aligns with my work with animals, since a portion of the profits directly goes to the Jason Heigl Foundation. I also can’t take all the credit — my mom Nancy is the heart and soul behind our entire foundation. She’s the one, at 80 years old, connecting with all the rescues and organizations to get them the help they need to save the animals.
Unfortunately, what drives me is the fact that even though I’ve been working on this for decades, there is still so much work to be done. The number of perfectly healthy, adoptable dogs that are being killed at shelters is truly heartbreaking. This isn’t to blame the shelters, however. They are doing the best they can, but they simply do not have the space to keep up with all of the animals being brought in. Over the years we’ve saved tens of thousands of dogs and sponsored dozens of spay and neuter programs in an effort to get this number down. I’ll continue to do whatever I can for as long as I can because I know this is a solvable problem.
