Ellen DeGeneres is introducing her very own brand of pet food

Ellen DeGeneres is good at making people laugh. Now, she's going to get even more smiles from her four-legged fans after introducing her very own brand of pet food.

Jeanne Wolf spoke with the animal-loving comic about her new venture and the upcoming election.

So, you're an entrepreneur now.

"I should have done it a long time ago. I was waiting for the right thing."

You're partnering with Halo—which has a great reputation. But you don't have your picture on the can or your name on the product.

"My name will be there sooner or later. We’re thinking about calling it Ellen's Own, sort of like Newman's Own. We're still working on the name."

And Paul Newman will be happy that he inspired it.

"Well, we have the same birthday, so he does inspire me."

I'm told, on good authority, that even humans can eat this dog food.

"Ours is all human grade. It's all natural. And yes, you can eat it. People love their animals so much so that they put little clothes on them and necklaces and booties and things like that. And if you love your animal, then you should feed them something that's not dangerous for them. There's a lot of poisonous stuff that they’re putting in a lot of that food, those by-products."

You know the next question, don't you?

"I have not tasted it yet."

I’m so disappointed.

"I know. A lot of my people have. I have my people taste it first. I have people tasters. No, my life's going pretty good. I don't need to eat it yet."

There are going to be people with shopping carts saying, "If the recession comes, we can eat Ellen's Own."

"If there's some kind of earthquake or something, I can eat pet food."

You're associated with pets in this weird way now because of the Iggy incident. Why do you think that touched such a chord?

"I was associated with pets long before that, so I don't think that's what associated me with pets. But I get the idea that it had gone out of people's minds. Hopefully it will go away. It's a shame that happened, mainly for the dog. I don't really hear about it anymore."

You’re in the middle of the political storm. Everybody is very impressed that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton came on your show. Are you excited about the idea that so many more people are interested in politics right now?

"Oh, yeah. I think everybody is anxious to see what we can do. I think that everybody wants change right now. It’s tough because especially if you’re a democrat, you have two really good possible candidates. So that’s exciting for people, to make history right now, to possibly have the first black president or the first female president. I like that the audience is getting involved, too."

Have you learned more about the process? It seems everybody in the country is worked up.

"I’m paying a lot of attention. I think my mind is made up, but I’m not sure. I’m keeping an open mind. I really want to look at who I truly believe is speaking from their heart and not just being a politician. And I think that’s hard. I think anybody who wants to be president has to be a politician, but I would like to find somebody who’s coming from a loving place instead of a political place."

Both candidates have had to take some negative stands about each other.

"That’s a shame. All that stuff is sad, that everybody has to make somebody bad or wrong, in order for somebody to be better or right."

One of those sources of pride among your team is that you beat Oprah this year.

"I know. It’s exciting."

How did you celebrate beating Oprah?

"I didn’t. When they told me, I was shocked. And that was exciting because she’s so hugely popular, and that they voted me favorite personality or whatever it was."

If you were a politician, what would your pet policy be?

"My pet policy would be to love them and give them as much respect as you would give any living thing and treat them kindly. They’re innocent little souls that are filled with unconditional love. And we should give them the same."
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