Petropolist

My conversation with Daniel Schulof brings to light the deep-rooted complexities of the pet food industry, highlighting the powerful grip some manufacturers have on this lucrative market. Schulof, founder of Keto Natural Pet Foods and author of Dogs, Dog Food, and Dogma, discusses the alarming rise in pet obesity, the flaws in traditional dog food, and how a few major pet food companies shape the world of veterinary nutrition. He emphasized the urgent need for change to protect the health of our pets. Daniel Schulof urges pet owners to become more scientifically literate and to seek independent information rather than relying solely on vet-recommended foods, which may be influenced by these pervasive industry ties. As he puts it, the fight for better pet food requires awareness, education, and sometimes even going against the status quo. Schulof also warns against relying on social media and internet influencers, as they can often contribute to misinformation in harmful ways. Listen to learn about his reasons for filing a class action lawsuit against Hill's Pet Nutrition and his hope for a shift in how the veterinary community approaches pet food. October 1, 2024: A ruling is expected at some point in the next 6 weeks. We will be checking in with Daniel for the results of the ruling and more. Thank you for listening.   The views expressed in this episode are not necessarily those of The Petropolist Podcast team.

"I think we don't have enough veterinary professionals. I don't really care what the AVMA is saying that there is not a shortage. I have, three practices right now that we're trying to staff. We have approximately 17, 18 veterinarians. We could use 25... ...people are leaving the industry and there are a lot of reasons for that... we are losing veterinary professionals. And I think one of the reasons we are losing them is they are becoming disenchanted and disenfranchised by private equity and corporate America. If we could give them a shelter to practice under where they're not asked to sell wellness plans. Don't get me started...Wellness plans were not designed by veterinary professionals, not anybody practicing or not anyone significantly connected and wanting to support the human-animal bond. That's not how you do it! The human animal bond is in the crosshairs of these folks. It is a target to make money period, the end... We all need to make money. We are, as veterinarians, severely burdened with student loan debt. We should all make a livable wage. We should be able to pay our loans and buy a house but no one is looking to be a millionaire or get rich when they go into veterinary medicine. Not most of us... I'm an entrepreneur so I'm a little outside of the box, but for the majority of veterinary professionals, we just want to practice our trade and our gift and be a part of supporting a healthy human animal bond and that, in my opinion, if we were allowed to do that, we'd have probably a longer career lifespan than we currently do..." Dr. Cherri Trusheim, DVM What happens to the pet patients, their owners, and the veterinarians in charge of their care when private equity is managing pet care? With 66 percent of households owning at least one pet and with $136.8 billion of household income being spent on these pets (source 2023-2024 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association), the pet boom has not gone unnoticed by private equity firms. Mars is the biggest pet care consolidator, best known for making candy.   Urban Animal founder Dr. Cherri Trusheim, DVM has observed it is negatively impacting all involved. This trend often detracts from employee culture. Corporatization also diminishes the standard of care by upselling and tying veterinary professionals’ compensation to the amount of products and services they sell. As a solution, Trusheim is introducing the first large-scale worker cooperative model as a solution to give power back to their team of more than 100 employees. and accessible, option-based care.  Worker cooperatives are gaining popularity as a means to establish equitable and sustainable employment, partly fueled by recent legislation in Washington and a growing interest in the model. The Cooperative Way, a consultancy group specializing in worker cooperative establishment, has collaborated with Urban Animal to inaugurate a cooperative venture. Dr. Cherri Trusheim's contribution of 5% of the company's value has served as the initial seed funding to propel the cooperative's launch. Adam Schwartz, Founder, The Cooperative Way has noted that “workplace democracy and worker cooperatives are becoming an increasingly attractive option that addresses a variety of the nation’s most common workplace challenges, including labor shortages, corporate culture, pay equity, and succession planning. The model is often formed to lift people out of generational poverty, as lower-income, people of color, and immigrants have founded the majority of worker co-ops in the US.”   Share this episode - If you are a veterinarian or you know a veterinary professional looking to have a better way of treating their patients while having a quality of life and well-being please have them listen to this episode and reach to Dr. Trusheim and Adam Schwartz.

Should Pet Retailers shoulder some responsibility for ensuring product safety and quality with the brands they stock and recommend? Food safety is critical. Those pet retailers who claim to be in the know and those who give direction and guidance to the pet owners are in fact the gate keepers of that critical space. Do these retailers take their roles seriously enough to look back at the history of a brand, it's owners, it's safety protocols, it problems, it's complaints....? Are you that retailer that talks big but is ok with a little bit of that 'white lie' for the sake of the sales? or are you the one that will hold brands accountable for their lack of compliance, integrity? Join me as I speak with Nicole Cammack about the role of the pet retailer in prioritizing safety, protecting consumers and your business. Your shelves tell your story!!

Tazz: What would you change within this industry that pertains only to indies? Sam: I'm going to go back to saying that independent pet has to come together to move the needle to support independent pet... The power is getting together and having a voice. Home Town Pet Shoppe

Dr. David P. Turner, a dedicated researcher at the Massey Cancer Center, is passionate about dogs and their well-being. Specializing in Cancer Prevention and Control research, Dr. Turner focuses on the adverse connections between advanced glycation end products (A.G.E.s) and human health. A.G.E.s, harmful oxidative compounds prevalent in processed and high-temperature-cooked foods, play a significant role in chronic diseases. In collaboration with his wife, Dr. Victoria Findlay, co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program, Dr. Turner co-founded the Anti-A.G.E. Foundation, a non-profit organization raising awareness about the health impact of processed foods. Driven by his extensive research on A.G.E.s' effects on human health, Dr. Turner shifted his focus to canine and feline companions. With the heavy consumption of processed foods by dogs and cats (by no choice of their own), which are often higher in A.G.E. content than human foods, he decided to investigate the potential harm these foods may cause to our pets’ health and lifespan. To learn more about the Anti A.G.E. research in pet foods please go to: https://anti-ages.org/a-g-e-s-in-pet-food To contribute to Anti-A.G.E.s foundation research please go to: https://anti-ages.org/ and scroll to the bottom of the page where you will see a DONATE button – Click and help  Are you interested in being a changemaker in the pet food community? Join us at the Coalition for Healthy Pet food – Email me at nutritionforpets@gmail.com with how you think you can contribute - and I will keep you updated with our next steps and the team member information. Please don’t think you need to have a PHD in nutrition or an email list of a million – no task is too small, and we are grateful to everyone that wants to step forward to help us build this important community. To watch Dr. David Turner’s TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvwMXqyrKG0

1.15.2024 ....The Purina Affair Phyllis Entis: I've been a food safety advocate for more years than I care to remember. I have been involved in food safety for half a century. Ever since I got out of school, I've been, one way or another, involved in food safety. Either on the corporate side, or the industry side, or as an advocate and it never seems to get any better.  Which is sad. Tazz Latifi: Has it gotten worse? Phyllis Entis: To some extent, I think it has because the industry has continued to grow and the regulatory bodies have continued to shrink.  And so, how do you enforce a speed limit if you don't have enough cops with radar guns?  Tazz Latifi: True, that's where the consumer advocates come in…  to pinpoint these trends.  So that you as the pet owners can have an awareness… to be able to make better choices for your pets and the foods you buy. If you are feeding Purina or any food that you think may be causing your pets to become sick please use the links below to get more information or to file reports with the FDA: Nestlé Purina PetCare and the direct link is https://efoodalert.com/nestle-purina-petcare/. FDA web pages dealing with reporting a complaint. These are:  How to Report a Pet Food Complaint (https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/report-problem/how-report-pet-food-complaint),  Consumer Complaint Coordinators (https://www.fda.gov/safety/report-problem-fda/consumer-complaint-coordinators) Safety Reporting Portal (https://www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov/SRP2/en/Home.aspx?sid=b0e3f2e8-01ed-48ac-ab88-7ec8a74c7105). The eFoodAlert website : https://efoodalert.com/ If you have not read Toxic yet - you should! here is where you can purchase a copy of TOXIC, Pet Food Is a Risky Business: mybook.to/TOXIC2023

You take your pet to doggy daycare or the groomer, or you've hired a dog walker or a pet sitter...are the staff at these facilities equipped to handle any of these potential emergencies? Are you? Bites and Scratches: Dogs may engage in play that involves nipping, biting, or scratching, leading to minor injuries. While most of these are part of normal play behavior, they can sometimes escalate. Sprains and Strains, Falls: Running, jumping, and rough play can lead to strains or sprains in dogs, particularly if they are older or have pre-existing conditions. Overexertion: Dogs, especially those with high energy levels, may overexert themselves during play, leading to exhaustion and related issues. Fights or Aggressive Interactions: Not all dogs get along, and conflicts can arise, resulting in fights or aggressive encounters. Pad Abrasions: Running and playing on hard surfaces can cause abrasions to a dog's paw pads. Foreign Object Ingestion: Dogs may occasionally pick up and swallow small items, toys, or pieces of material during play. Dehydration: Pets may become dehydrated, especially if they are active and there is insufficient access to water, are fed dry foods, or are stressed due to conditions you may not even be aware of until it becomes emergent. Stress-Related Issues: Some dogs may experience stress or anxiety in a group setting, leading to various health issues like bloat, seizures, or aggression. Cuts and Abrasions: Accidental nicks or cuts can happen during the grooming process they use sharp tools such as scissors or clippers. Clipper Burns: Improper use or overheating of clippers can lead to burns on a pet's skin. Nail Trimming Accidents: Cutting a pet's nails too short can result in bleeding and pain. Some pets may also resist nail trimming, leading to accidental injuries. Ear Injuries: Cleaning or plucking the ears can sometimes lead to accidental injuries, especially if the pet moves suddenly. Eye Irritation or Injury: Grooming products or tools can accidentally come into contact with a pet's eyes, causing irritation or injury. Allergic Reactions: Some pets may be allergic to grooming products, leading to skin irritation, redness, or itching. Bee stings or spider bites...do you know what to do? Heat-Related Issues/burns: Improper use of grooming tools, such as dryers, can lead to overheating or burns on a pet's skin. Stepping on a hot manhole cover, metal grates, or hot sand or pavement. Aggressive Behavior: In some cases, pets may exhibit aggressive behavior during grooming, leading to potential injuries to the groomer or the pet itself. Pre-existing Health Conditions: Groomers may accidentally exacerbate pre-existing health conditions in pets, especially if they are not aware of the pet's medical history. How about you? Are you prepared to handle emergencies, like choking, a snake bite, an allergic reaction from a bee sting, cardiac arrest, smoke inhalation, or consumption of something poisonous???? Do you think you know what to do? Do you think your groomers or pet care facilities are equipped with the knowledge to handle emergencies....? Bertha Villanueva-Shertzer, The Pet Medic and Aloha Dog Mom, talks about Pet emergencies in episode # 105. This may be one of the most important episodes you listen to. Please share this episode!!! Thank you.

"I knew that I wanted to do something in the pet industry but I also wanted to be a testimony to what a black woman with no college degree could achieve. I want to not only help pet owners give their pets a better life I want to inspire and give back to all the other people like me. People who look like me and people trapped in jobs and careers that they don’t love or enjoy.     Once the decision was made in my mind that I would be opening Brick City Pets, the pieces began to fall into place..." Louvenia Spencer

Elizabeth A. Schuette, President and CEO of The ARK at JFK oversees all day-to-day operations of JFK International Airport’s animal health, reception, and quarantine center. The ARK provides safe and humane animal reception, accommodation, handling, and transport services to airlines and their ground handling agents as well as shippers, forwarders, and individuals. Elizabeth works closely with senior TSA, CBP, USDA, and CDC officers, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials, IATA representatives, as well as airline executives, public health officials, and veterinary medical experts. Elizabeth is an active contributor to animal shipping trade organizations including the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (“IPATA”) and Animal Transportation Association (“ATA”). The ARK Pet Oasis is a 4,000 S.F. animal reception center comprising 47 dog kennels, 12 cat kennels, 4 isolation kennels, and a secure cargo delivery area. The facility also features an enclosed outdoor relief area, grooming tub, drying table, laundry room, food prep/kitchenette, and veterinary triage station. ARK-branded vans for safe and temperature-controlled transport of pets. With direct airside access, ARK Pet Oasis is a Customs Bonded Warehouse and Container Freight Station (“CFS”); it is authorized to receive and handle animals that have not yet cleared customs due to late arrivals or customs holds directly from the carrier. Floors and walls are covered with a bio-secure epoxy finish that enables thorough disinfection. The facility is serviced by a sophisticated HVAC system that provides 100% air exchange to 4 separate zones. The kennel areas are well-insulated to contain sound and reduce stress. Operations and bio-security protocols are overseen by The ARK at JFK’s Chief Medical Officer in conjunction with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Click here to learn more about Elizabeth Schuette and The Ark at JFK.  

Here are 2 quick and tame excerpts from this eye-opening conversation with JP Goodwin, Senior Director of HSUS Stop Puppy Mill Campaign, and Liz Menegon, Founder of Hands2Paws. John: ... one year ago, there was a major push by some people in the pet industry to say that there was a dog shortage. Do you remember that?" Tazz: Ohhh I saw those articles. I was livid. John: They wanted to drive people towards more of the commercial breeding side of the industry for acquiring dogs and cats...it's kind of funny. I spoke with one of the people who was a big driver of that messaging for that pet shortage messaging. and this was just last year and he said..." Tazz: No, the greenwashing of the pet industry is just unbelievable with foods, with products, with supplements, and with animal welfare. It's just nonstop. It's frustrating. I am scared sometimes. John: But there's good people in the industry, too... Most of the retailers don't sell puppies. Many of them endorse efforts to stop the sale of puppies in pet stores. Want to know what you can do to be a part of the solution? Listen to & share this episode with anyone who has a pet or is looking to bring one into their lives and then send them to the shelters and while you're at it have them get pet insurance...the cost of health care for these animals is skyrocketing making the cost to care for them unaffordable. Contact Liz Menegon for partnerships, to stop backyard breeders and puppy mills at the grassroots level: or at NoLease4Paws Support HSUS and its Campaigns here Subscribe and follow The Petropolist Podcast

What is the reason behind pet food manufacturers being able to evade accountability in many instances where their products have caused harm and even fatalities? Is there adequate oversight provided by regulatory bodies designed to monitor the food system or are they facing limitations that hinder them from effectively carrying out their responsibilities? If you are in the pet industry or a pet owner, you owe it to yourself, your pets, and your customers to read this book. With the 2023 release of TOXIC. From Factory to Food Bowl, Pet Food Is a Risky Business, Phyllis Entis has attained her long-standing goal of supplying pet owners with the information they need to understand the issues behind twenty years of pet food recalls and safety alerts. A graduate of McGill University and the University of Toronto, Phyllis Entis received her introduction to the field of food safety at the hands of Canada’s Health Protection Branch, where she spent the first seven years of her professional life immersed in Salmonella, Staphylococcus, E. coli, and other bad actors from the microbial world. After a long career in the food safety industry, Entis became a freelance consultant and writer. Her first book was published in 2002 by the Food Processors Institute. It was followed five years later by Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives (published by ASM Press). In 2020, she released TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failure. TOXIC: mybook.to/TOXIC2023https://www.audible.com/pd/Toxic-Audiobook/B0CCXDFHDK TAINTED: mybook.to/TAINTED2023https://www.audible.com/pd/Tainted-Audiobook/B09V7CSB8R TOXIC Trailer on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdCvKiLYCnY Connect with Phyllis: eFoodAlert.comphyllisentis.wordpress.comhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Phyllis-Entis/author/B071LRJ4JYhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-entis-1697a849/https://www.facebook.com/groups/1271404153668892https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisEntis

Joanna Bronowicka, owner of Well Bred, The Healthy Pet Marketplace, is a passionate and knowledgeable pet retailer with six locations in New Jersey. Originally from Poland, Joanna came to the United States to pursue an MBA at the University of Michigan. During her studies, Joanna developed a proposal for a pet boutique that focused on premium products and pet adoptions. After completing her degree at UOM, she worked in the corporate sector and as time passed she found herself drawn back to her college project. While searching for options to enter into the pet industry a friend informed Joanna that Well Bred, a pet store established in 2001, was up for sale. Seeing it as a great opportunity to start her own business, Joanna relied on her business experience to analyze the next steps and took the plunge into the world of entrepreneurship. With her academic blueprint and passion for pet nutrition, Joanna transformed Well Bred into a store that prioritizes healthy nutrition and high-quality products for dogs and cats. To further enhance her knowledge, Joanna enrolled in feline and canine nutrition courses at Southern Illinois University.  Joanna Bronowicka wanted to be a CEO and she is doing it!! Listen & learn about Joanna's views on customers, pet foods, sustainability, DCM, and more.

This is not a pet ownership guide, a choosing the right pet guide, nor is it an overview of pet care tips, or a pet breeds and characteristics guide. In episode 99 of The Petropolist Podcast, I speak with Suzana Gartner about her career in Animal law and her new book A Voice for Animals. It is a must-read with lessons about how you can make a lasting impact with your voice!!! Learn about Suzana Gartner here.

Due to a lack of regulations, many pet grooming products are not as safe as they claim to be.  Pet skin is also as thin as baby skin (approx 5 x thinner) depending on breed. Therefore much care needs to be taken when buying pet skincare products. In this episode of The Petropolist podcast, Dr. Poonum Wilkhu discusses the difference between pet grooming products and why the consumer needs to tread cautiously when choosing pet shampoos, conditioners, paw wipes, and any other grooming products that may expose your pets to toxic chemicals which may cause harm. Want to learn more about Dr. Wilkhu? Check out her site here. Want to look up the ingredients in your pet's grooming products? Check out PubChem and Environmental Working Group

Adrian Archie is the founder of yet another pet franchise company but what is it that makes his vision and brand stand apart from the many others in the crowded pet franchise space? SOUL and foresight...listen, feel, and free your mind to learn.

The pet industry has a significant and detrimental impact on the environment. Over the past decade, plastic has been the most commonly used material for pet products ranging from food packaging to pet toys.  Plastic pollution has a range of environmental effects. Plastics release hazardous chemicals into the air, water, and soil. These chemicals can bioaccumulate in the ocean, posing threat to marine life  - it is in the news every day…it takes a long time for plastics to decompose and they can and do remain in the environment for years or even centuries. The plastic then breaks into smaller particles and can block sunlight in the ocean, which in turn has an adverse effect on the food chain. Plastic products, pet products, and non-recyclable or non-compostable packaging typically end up in landfills, further contributing to air and water pollution. Let's learn how the pet industry leaders may be finally coming around a bit...giddy up big boys - you have kept your heads buried in the sand for far too long. Tanya Hart, the Founder & CEO of Titan Bioplastics & Augie Bones is leading the path by providing the turtle-paced pet company leadership solutions for replacing toxic non-recycled petroleum-based products. Pet owners and pet retailers can demand quicker and bigger changes from this highly self-serving industry. Pet owners and pet retailers can take steps to reduce their plastic consumption and adjust their buying habits to purchasing and using non-toxic, sustainable pet products. Look for reusable containers, pet toys, and pet accessories that are made of natural, eco-friendly materials - speak loudly with your $'s. *The views, information, or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast or youtube video series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of the host or the employees of The Petropolist. The primary purpose of this show is to educate and inform. This show does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services. Please contact a medical professional/veterinarian for all questions regarding the health of your pet.  The Petropolist show and podcast are available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this show.*

Adam Jacobson truly represents the pet industry's best of the best - Adam is the Executive VP of Pet Pantry, a family-owned, multi-award winning regional pet supply chain with store locations servicing Westchester County, NY, and Fairfield County, CT.  He is truly involved...he is responsible for all of the day-to-day operations of the business. Including the site selection, purchasing, and ground-up construction of owner-occupied commercial buildings housing current Pet Pantry Warehouse (PPW) retail businesses. Adam and his family took their knowledge of the pet industry and partnered with the Ruud family to bring Raised Right, a family-owned human-grade pet food company that makes "home-cooked style" whole food recipes for dogs & cats to market. In 2019 - Raised Right received the IVC Innovation Award for Nutrition from the Innovative Veterinary Care Journal. In 2022 -Jacobson and Ruud launched Right Way Reps with the aim to level the playing field between brands of all sizes by providing them with support to effectively grow within the retail sector - their passion for people, pets, and innovation has created a space of growth for brands that need resources and support to stand out in the pet market place.   Since recording this episode with Adam I am excited to write that I am working with RWR and the Raised Right brand - I am strict with brands I support and Raised Right easily meets my criteria for a TOP quality line of products... A family-owned company that is transparent about its quality ingredients and processes. Single protein formulations for cats, dogs, and puppies. No synthetic supplements, the puppy formulas meet and exceed AAFCO standards using human-grade minerals for the specific health requirements of growing puppies, excellent quality control methods, produced in USDA kitchens, and almost all of the recipes have less than 2% carbohydrates - there is truly no other product on the market like this - Click here to learn more about Raised Right Pet Foods.  

About 2 or 3 years ago I read a post that Roger DeGregori had written on LinkedIn questioning the plight of the abandoned big box stores on every corner while wondering what could be created within those structures... He had some ideas and fast forward to today Roger and his team have envisioned, repurposed, and constructed a vibrant community of independent pet businesses called Pet Yards.   Jeff Bezos made this statement when asked about entrepreneurship at a re:Mars Amazon conference: "You have got to have some passion for the arena you're going to develop and work in, otherwise, you're going to be competing against people who do have passion for that and they're going to build better products and services."  Roger checks every box for merging entrepreneurship, passion, community, and pets - He is one of the good ones in the industry and one to watch.  Learn more about Pet Yards Learn more about the Fish Gallery at Pet Yards

Pet business expert and investor David Levy begrudgingly :) allowed me to interview him about his opinion of the Independent Pet Partners Bankruptcy filing and the current state of the pet space.

Using the Tably app, a photo of your cat says a thousand words - or maybe just a few - helping your cat tell you whether they’re having a good day or a bad one. Tably’s highly accurate AI model assesses a photo against validated veterinary pain scales. The model has assessed hundreds of thousands of photos with over 90% precision. It utilizes proprietary machine learning algorithms to empower cat parents to make informed decisions about their cat’s health. Tably employs a number of artificial intelligence processes: object detection, image suitability detection, object extraction, image categorization, and result analysis. To minimize errors, we have configured our algorithm to validate the presence of a feline face in the image before sending it to the AI model for further analysis. Tably is the first product created by Sylvester.ai, a company that creates predictive healthcare products powered by artificial intelligence to improve animal health outcomes across species. Sylvester.ai believes animals can live healthier, longer lives when humans can be more proactive in their care. Meet Dr. Liz Bales Liz Bales, VMD is a 2000 graduate of The University of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine who has gained a special interest in the unique behavioral and wellness needs of pets. During her nearly two-decade veterinary career, Dr. Bales has practiced equine, small animal, and feline only. Dr. Bales is a writer, speaker and a featured expert in all things pet around the globe including appearances on Fox and Friends, ABC News, and Cheddar.  She is the founder of Doc and Phoebe’s Cat Company and the inventor of The Indoor Hunting Feeder for cats. Dr. Bales is a writer and has been a guest speaker at The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and The University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She sits on the Dean’s Alumni Council at The University of Pennsylvania, the Advisory Board for AAFP Cat-Friendly Practice, and the Advisory Board of Fear-Free. Meet Tably Founder Susan Groeneveld: A co-creator of multiple, globally recognized, award-winning companies; Susan is an expert in marketing consultancy, business model development, and marketing outcome approaches for national and multinational corporations. Susan has worked with Bayer, Novartis, Roche, Elanco, Canadian Lentils, UPL, Purina, General Mills, Federated Co-operatives, and Royal Canin to name a few. Susan wonders about the problems we can solve and is inspired by the power of humanity to do good. Learn more about the research used to validate the use of facial AI to help predict pain in cats here