A new health food store for dogs and cats recently opened in Columbia Falls.

Emily and Louie Bertino along with business partner Natalie Paulsen recently opened Super Natural Pet Foods on Sixth Street West kitty-corner from Columbia Falls City Hall.

The  extensive shop features a host of holistic foods including fresh and frozen dog and cat foods such as frozen tripe for dogs and freeze-dried minnows for cats. They also offer minimally processed dry  and wet dog and cat foods and a host of other chewable treats to choose from. They even have dog ice creams.

In addition they sell a host of pet toys and other supplies, such as skunk treatment if your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, or life jackets for dogs that don’t swim well. They even have backpacks for dogs that travel in the backcountry.

In addition, they have an assortment of leashes, harnesses and collars and even “calming bars” for pets that are sensitive to loud sounds like fireworks or if they’re nervous about traveling. There is even an animal book exchange.

“Almost everything in the store is made in the U.S.,” Emily Bertino noted.

Emily Bertino’s  background is in managing large predator nutrition programs including as the former director of the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary as well as work for the Humane Society. She also offers nutritional counseling for pet owners.

She said one of the biggest mistakes people make in feeding pets is basic nutrition. 

A lot of pets don’t get enough moisture in their diets, particularly cats. They need plenty of water and whole foods. Too many dogs and cats get nothing but starchy foods and as a result, dogs have very high rates of cancer, she noted.

The Bertinos recently moved to Columbia Falls from Red Lodge.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and available on social media like Facebook.