Drawing on a childhood shaped by constant change, Arron Jones-Williams ’13 turned his optimism and drive into a business devoted to giving rescue dogs a second chance. Through Rescue Treats, he continues the spirit of leadership, compassion and connection he first discovered at Elon.
Arron Jones-Williams ’13 has built a business grounded in compassion, optimism and the belief that every life deserves a chance. As the founder of Rescue Treats, an all-natural dog treat company that donates part of every sale to rescue organizations, he often describes himself in a simple phrase that describes his purpose: “I’m a former foster kid helping foster dogs.”
Arron grew up in Ohio’s foster-care system before being adopted as a pre-teen. He remembers the moves, the uncertainty and the mix of great and not-so-great foster homes. What stayed with him was his determination not to let his circumstances define him. “Foster care made me a glass-half-full person,” he said. “Things could always be worse, so just be happy.”
When it came time for college, he looked for somewhere far enough away to feel like a fresh start but close enough to reach on a Greyhound bus from Cleveland. Elon fit. He enrolled in 2009 and majored in political science, quickly becoming involved across campus. He served as president of the College Democrats, participated in Model UN, became a Civic Engagement Scholar and joined Pi Gamma Mu, the international social sciences honor society.
“Elon had the most beautiful campus I’d ever seen,” he said. “It just felt like the right place.”
He pieced together his education through federal grants, financial aid and on-campus work, including serving as a resident assistant. But his time at Elon was also shaped by people who stepped in when he needed help.
“A huge shoutout to Phil Smith, he paid for my books every year,” he said. “My best friend since freshman year, Danny, and his mom, Lisa, realized I didn’t have a laptop or meal plan. She sponsored me. She’s been my second mom ever since.”
After graduation, Arron moved into finance and consulting. Even while working full-time, he found himself sketching an idea for a company that blended his love for dogs with his desire to make an impact. When his department learned it was being eliminated, he took the severance offer and decided to pursue his idea fully.
“There were other roles I could’ve taken,” he said. “But I figured if there was ever a moment to take the leap, that was it.”
Rescue Treats grew out of those first prototypes. Arron designed a checkout system where customers choose which rescue receives a donation from their purchase. The treats are baked with simple, all-natural ingredients, and customers can subscribe to receive recurring deliveries while continuing to support the rescue of their choice. He doesn’t take a salary, so more money can go back to the organizations they work with.
He remembers one moment when the impact of his work felt real. He was leaving the bakery, walking to the post office with a stack of orders, when it hit him how far the idea had come.
“The late nights, the rejections; it all felt worth it,” he said. “These bags were going into homes across the country. They were helping dogs I’d never even met. I went from being tired to thinking, ‘How do I scale this to help more?’”
Not every step along the way has been easy. Early on, he pitched to a major grocery chain and was told that “dog treats don’t sell well here.” He laughed, thinking back on it.
“Maybe theirs don’t,” he said. “Ours fly off the shelves and they support rescues.”
Rescue Treats has since been recognized by local and state leaders for its mission-driven model.
One partnership that stayed with him was Strong Paws Rescue. After a particularly slow quarter, he called to apologize for what he thought was too small a donation.
“Meg, the founder, told me never to think like that,” he said. “She said $60 can save a dog’s life; that pays for worm pills. My mind exploded. Every order matters.”
Arron says Elon helped prepare him more than he realized at the time.
“I like to think I got a second major in studying people and making friends,” he said. “Running a business, you learn from your mistakes, you study others to avoid theirs and you build a network of support.”
He also reflects on how Southern manners stuck with him.
“As a northern kid at a southern school, I learned ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘yes sir.’ I can’t tell you how far manners go. A smile can start a conversation that teaches you a million things,” he said.
Rescue Treats has recently expanded into a no-cost fundraising program for schools, clubs and sports teams, allowing students to sell the treats while still supporting a rescue on the back end, what Arron calls a “double fundraiser.” The model has taken off. “Students are outselling traditional fundraisers,” he said. “And once a dog has a new favorite treat, families come back for more.”
When asked what advice he’d give to his 18-year-old self, or to current Elon students with a business idea of their own, he didn’t hesitate.
“Entrepreneurs find areas that need improvement,” he said. “That’s all it is. Find the thing that isn’t being done well or isn’t being done at all and start there.”
You can purchase all-natural Rescue Treats, as well as learn more information at www.rescuetreats.dog. Find them on Instagram and Facebook.
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