Ellen DeGeneres Buys Pet Food Company

By PHEBE HUNNICUTT
Posted: 2008-05-16 20:41:25
Ellen DeGeneres is best known for making people laugh, but when it comes to her pets (she and partner Portia de Rossi share their California home with three cats and two dogs) she's serious -- about what they eat, at least. That's why she recently became an owner of Halo, a line of all-natural cat and dog food, treats and grooming supplies.

Ellen and Portia

    HOLLYWOOD - JUNE 15: (FILE PHOTO) Comedian/host Ellen DeGeneres (L) and actress Portia Di Rossi kiss in the audience during the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on June 15, 2007 in Hollywood, California. DeGeneres announced, as a result of yesterday's California Supreme Court decision, her engagement to de Rossi during the taping of her talk show May 16, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The California Supreme Court voted 4-3 to overturn a ban on gay marriage in California making it the second state where gays and lesbians can marry. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

    Getty Images

    Actresses Ellen DeGeneres (R) and Portia de Rossi arrive for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in West Hollywood in this February 25, 2007 file photo. DeGeneres annouced during a taping of "The Ellen Degeneres Show" May 15, 2008 that she plans to marry her long-time partner, actress Portia de Rossi, after a California court ruling allowing gay marriage REUTERS/Chris Pizzello/Files (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

    *** FILE *** In this 2008 file photo actress Portia de Rossi, left, and television personality Ellen DeGeneres arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday, April 26, 2008, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. DeGeneres is putting the state Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage into action _ she and actress Portia de Rossi plan to wed, DeGeneres announced during a taping of her talk show Thursday May 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Weeks, FILE)

    AP

    ** CORRECTS DATE ** Actress Portia de Rossi, left, and television personality Ellen DeGeneres arrives at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday, April 26, 2008, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Weeks)

    AP

    ** CORRECTS DATE ** Actress Portia de Rossi, left, and television personality Ellen DeGeneres arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday, April 26, 2008, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Weeks)

    AP

    NO TABLOIDS.Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 25, 2008 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California..19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Backstage.Kodak Theatre.Hollywood, CA United States.April 26, 2008.Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com..To license this image (15753708), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

    NO TABLOIDS.Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 25, 2008 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California..19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Backstage.Kodak Theatre.Hollywood, CA United States.April 26, 2008.Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com..To license this image (15753141), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

    NO TABLOIDS.Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 25, 2008 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California..19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Backstage.Kodak Theatre.Hollywood, CA United States.April 26, 2008.Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com..To license this image (15753140), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

    NO TABLOIDS.Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 25, 2008 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California..19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Backstage.Kodak Theatre.Hollywood, CA United States.April 26, 2008.Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com..To license this image (15753139), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

    Comedian Ellen DeGeneres, actress Portia de Ross, comedian Jimmy Kimmel and comedian Sarah Silverman arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 25, 2008 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California..19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Red Carpet.Kodak Theatre.Hollywood, CA United States.April 26, 2008.Photo by Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com..To license this image (15752614), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

Ellen's passion for animals became front page news during her very public ordeal adopting a stray named Iggy ("It was a vulnerable time for me," she says in retrospect. "I was really grateful that people were with me and saw it was just pure pain I was, unfortunately, sharing with the world.") On the heels of the announcement of her June nuptials to de Rossi, AOL Living chatted with Ellen about her newest venture.

What inspired you to buy a pet food company?

I was feeding my animals Halo because it was so good for them, but I never thought for a second, "I should buy the company." It was a wonderful coincidence when they approached me and said, "Do you want to be a part of this?" It was just so organic.

Americans spend a lot on their pets, but in a tough economy, will they splurge on all-natural pet food?

The reason Halo is more expensive is because it costs more to make -- it contains butcher-quality meat. But one of the things that I am going to work on is getting a lower price point and making it available everywhere for everybody.

Why should they spend the money?

Halo is at a higher price point, but it balances out in vet bills. People have emailed and said Halo saved their cat's life or dog's life. I am proud to be involved with it and I wouldn't be if I didn't hear all these amazing stories.

Do you eat as well as your pets -- organically, that is?

Oh, absolutely. I treat myself as well as I treat my animals!

I've heard that humans can eat it Halo -- true?

Let's say there was an earthquake and you couldn't get to the store for a while. If you stocked up on Halo for your pets, you could share it with them, no problem!

2008-05-16 16:29:42
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