Zen Animals Staff Feature: Gabriella Leite

Gabriella created Zen Animals because of the need for a progressive and innovative approach to the pet care industry in Brooklyn. She loves animals and the way they live in the moment and “keep it real,” traits from which we can all gain wisdom. She has created an environment at Zen Animals where the Vira Lata approach is embodied: an environment where animals live by their truest natures while enjoying their innate pack mentality. Gabriella has always been an entrepreneur. She studied Anthropology at NYU while simultaneously creating a natural skincare line of herbal health remedies. This natural entrepreneurial drive, combined with her passion for health and wellness, gave Gabriella the desire to incorporate natural and organic products into her zen pet care spas. Zen Animals is the first holistic pet spa in Brooklyn. All bathing products and spa treatments are made in-house using Gabriella’s all natural recipes, which are also offered for sale in the spas. From the food Zen Animals carries, to the products made and used, to the bright and natural environment in which pets are cared for, all elements of Zen Animals have your pet’s health and wellness in mind. Gabriella loves being creative and inventing spa services and products that clients will love and that will truly benefit the pets. She works to provide amazing customer service, offering a warm and caring environment, and maintaining an incredibly talented and caring staff. Most days Gabriella can be found at one of the Brooklyn Zen Animals locations with her young daughter, Talia. 

Natural Product of the Month: Raw Hemp Oil

Our homemade recipes are always thoughtfully made and beneficial to your pups. Our natural product of the month is raw hemp oil, which we use in combination with other ingredients to remove shedding undercoat which is then "furminated" out by one of our grooming professionals. We love our raw hemp oil because it eases anxiety caused by separation, city noise, and thunder; alleviates joint pain and inflammation; increases your pup's appetite; reduces nausea and bowel disfunction; and it is good for your pup's heart!

Zen Animal Love Story: Jellybean + Rosana

There's nothing like the love we have for our furry friends, so we're starting a new feature this month called "Zen Animals Love Story," through which we tell the touching stories of how our pups met and fell in love with their humans, and vice versa! Jellybean is our first feature, she is one of our regular doggie daycare pups, and she came to her Momma @rosanavidal thanks to  @waggytailrescue. 

The love story started years ago when Rosana first started craving the company of a pup, but knew the timing wasn't right. She waited years and years until in October of 2017 she started having a series of dreams that she had a dog. In November she dreamt she had a dog named Jellybean, and decided to reach out to @waggytailrescue and give it a shot. The first dog they sent her was Ella, who was a stray dog staying in a high kill shelter in Texas. Days before she was put down, Holly, the owner of Waggy Tail Rescue, placed her into foster care with Rosana. 

It was quite an adjustment for Rosana. After 24 hours of fostering, she was begging Holly to find someone to adopt Ella. The dog was super sweet but was more work than expected and very disruptive to her life. Holly assured her they'd find someone to adopt Ella soon. After one week of fostering Ella, Rosana called Holly to tell her there was no way she was parting ways with little Ella. In just one week they had become inseparable and Rosana was head over heels in love. She changed her name to Jellybean and they've been together ever since!

Three fun facts about Jellybean:

1. She loves broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, and just about any other non-leafy vegetable

2. She’s fast as a bullet and loves chasing squirrels (though she’s caught up to one or two and jumped over them)

3. She stands on Rosana to wake her up in the morning

Follow @waggytailrescue on Instagram or visit their website to learn more about fostering or adopting a pup!