How one family’s passion for pets evolved from Manhattan aquatic retailer to modern manufacturing facilities serving retailers and pet-parents nationwide.

A family legacy of animal care
From left to right: Cole, Ryan and Eric Abbey at the Loving Pets booth, SuperZoo 2024. Inset: The Abbey family in its younger days, Cole (left) and Ryan with Dad Eric.

When Eric Abbey founded Loving Pets in 2005, he wasn’t just starting a company — he was continuing a family tradition that stretches back nearly a century in the pet industry. Today, as his sons Ryan and Cole Abbey join the business, they represent the fourth generation of a family committed to enhancing the lives of pets and the people who love them.

The Abbey family’s pet industry roots run deep. Eric’s grandfather, Lou Dalwin, was one of the original founding members of what is now the American Pet Products Association (APPA). In the 1930s, Dalwin operated Aquarium Stock Company, which occupied an entire Manhattan city block with over 10,000 aquariums and became an educational destination before the New York Aquarium existed.

The Bella Bowl Collection features hygienic stainless steel interiors and skid-resistant rubber ring bases that can be removed for dishwasher-safe cleaning. Available in a variety of colors to complement any home décor.
MSRP: $6.49 – $18.49

Eric’s father, Kenneth Abbey, carried on the tradition by launching Petcetera in 1972, where Eric would later cut his teeth in sales, marketing and product development. “I am proud to be committed to the pet industry because of the incredible people and the industry itself,” Eric Abbey explains. “It’s full of passionate and creative people that care about pets.”

What began in 2005 with imported Bella Bowls — still the #1 stainless steel pet feeding bowl on the market two decades later — has evolved into a manufacturing powerhouse. Loving Pets now operates three manufacturing plants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with expanded capabilities in extrusion, jerky production, injection molding, and packaging.

ActivPetz® Treats with omega-3, probiotics and multivitamins support gut, joint, skin and immune health in four delicious flavors.
MSRP: $14.99

The company’s flagship Bella Bowls, available in a variety of styles and colors to complement any home décor, combine veterinarian-recommended hygienic steel inserts with stylish rubber bases to help prevent skidding and noise. Their made in the USA Natural Value treat line delivers high-quality, all-natural nutrition at an accessible price point for pet parents. The newest innovation, FlavorFullz treats, continues the tradition of nutritious, high-quality offerings that pets crave.

Chicken Breast Tenders for Dogs satisfy your pup’s craving for real meat. Perfect for dogs of any size.
MSRP: $7.99 – $29.99

“Our industry is unique in that there is always positive energy from development to manufacturing to the store level to the end-consumer,” notes Abbey. And, as Ryan and Cole Abbey join their father in leadership roles, they bring fresh perspectives while honoring the values that have guided the family business for generations: unwavering quality, innovation and affordability that independent retailers can depend on.

For four generations, the Abbey family has understood what drives the pet industry — a genuine love for animals and a commitment to making their lives better. At Loving Pets, that legacy continues to flourish.