Tall Tails Remembers Colleague And Friend Mike Mcgee

(PRESS RELEASE) After a courageous 5 year battle with cancer, Mike passed peacefully on August 18th, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.

Mike loved the pet industry because it allowed him to build relationships and to get to know people as people. Mike valued and treasured those relationships.

Beginning his career in the beverage industry, he joined Natural Balance Pet Foods in 2010, coming to Tall Tails in 2015, where he became an important contributor to our company, our culture and our industry community.

Always giving generously of himself, those who knew Mike experienced his humor and positive attitude, his warmth and integrity, and the genuine interest in others that made people feel valued and cared for.

For Mike, it was never just business. It was personal.

Nothing revealed Mike’s character more than the grace, faith, determination and optimism with which he faced cancer. Through it all, his interest remained focused on those around him.

Mike remained unmistakably Mike.

Mike loved his Tall Tails family and treasured the friendships he made throughout the pet industry. But above everything else was his love for his wife, Tonya, and their children, Michael, Matthew and Hailey. They were the center of his life.

We are heartbroken to lose Mike, but extraordinarily grateful to have known him.

To everyone in our industry who shared a conversation, a laugh, a friendship or simply a moment with Mike — you were part of a community that brought him great joy.

Mike shared with us his hope that all our good memories of him would always bring joy and strengthen our faith wherever life takes us.

His time with us was all too short, but we give thanks that we had Mike in our lives, and we smile at the wonderful memories he leaves us. Thank you, Mike.