Feeding Champions: The Story of Bil-Jac, the Life and Passion of Bill Kelly

When World War II ended, Bill Kelly returned to Ohio with a few dollars in his pocket and a great passion for animal nutrition. In those days, commercial dog foods were made primarily from grains, which provided poor-quality nutrition. With the blessing of his wife, Bill developed a formula for the first patented dog food and began selling the product out of their kitchen. It did not take long for dog owners to see the difference that superior nutrition made in the health and appearance of their animals, and a new company was born.

More than sixty years later, Bil-Jac remains the first choice of breeders, professional handlers, and trainers of animals for movies and television. Although their chief competitors are owned by mulitnational giants, Bil-Jac remains family owned by multinational giants, Bil-Jac remains family owned and controlled. This allows the Kellys to personally select every ingredient they put in their food. Bill himself, now in his nineties, still inspects all Bill-Jac formulas and uses his wealth of knowledge to build on Bil-Jac's reputation for outstanding nutrition and stringent quality control.

Feeding Champions is a book every dog lover should read. It is the history of dog food in America, a walk through the world of dog shows and dog fanciers, and a look at what it takes to build a successful company. It's also a heartwarming story of nice guys who finish first.