Weekly Roundup
Friday · 10/16/2026 · Issue #408
🐾 Thinking About Exiting in 2027? Your Clock Started This Month.
A well-run sale process often takes 6–12 months.
Buyers will ask about the full year you're about to close. Here's what founders who exit well do in Q4:
1. Clean up your financials. Get your 2026 financials in order, on an accrual basis, before diligence starts.
2. Gather the proof buyers want. Retention cohorts, unit economics, customer testimonials, NPS, clinical evidence, and more.
3. Know what comes next. Do you want to stick around after the transaction, or drop the keys at the door?
Tuck Advisors is an M&A advisory firm built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. We navigate the pitfalls to protect your life's work so you don't leave money on the table.
Quick Hits
🐾 Dolly Parton’s trust files new pet food trademark, signaling potential expansion into branded dog treats
💔 Why losing a dog can sometimes hurt more than losing a person, and why grief lingers
🐱 Pokémon for cats just dropped, an app called Cat Collector is turning everyday cat spotting into a game
😂 A veterinarian's field guide to LinkedIn personalities
💊 Your dog's prescription could be filled at CVS, including certain medications made specifically for pets
🙌 Luna, a Jack Russell–Chihuahua mix, was found after surviving more than a month in Yellowstone National Park
🎤 Dog parents, here’s your chance to be on the Oprah Podcast
🐕 Rex is NYC’s goodest boy and a story worth knowing
🍷 A California winemaker believes the rare fox collie could be the perfect dog for modern life
🎉 Rooted Owl welcomes Pawsible Ventures co-founder Alex Chieng to advisory board
Israeli Veterinary Chain Valued at $77M in Private Equity Deal
Leox and Phoenix are acquiring 85% of Haverim, a 10-clinic veterinary group, with a $58 million capital injection to fund expansion.
Arrow Ventures Targets $125M for Animal Health Investments
The Australian investment firm, which has backed five animal health biotech companies, is seeking funding to advance veterinary drugs toward U.S. regulatory approval and commercialization.
Chewy's Autoship Accounts for 84% of Sales as Pet Market Slows
Chewy's recurring-order program generates 84% of net sales, with Autoship revenue growing 11.5% year over year despite broader pet market weakness.
Cats-Only Pet Sitting Franchise Opens Inquiries Across 33 States
MEOW! A Cat Sitting Co. is expanding its home-based franchise model, targeting growing demand for specialized feline care without requiring physical storefronts.
RxActuator Secures Seed Funding to Expand Wearable Veterinary Drug Delivery
Waypoint Ventures invested in RxActuator to scale its wearable Mini-Infuser, which delivers medication for up to 48 hours and could allow more veterinary patients to receive treatment at home. Funding terms were not disclosed.
Sterling Group Plans New Specialist Veterinary Hospital in Australia
The veterinary group plans to open a Gold Coast facility in late 2028, combining specialist medicine with 24-hour emergency and critical care services.
Hill's Prioritizes Premium Branded Pet Food Over Private Label
Colgate-Palmolive is emphasizing higher-margin Hill's branded products over private-label manufacturing as ingredient and advertising costs pressure profitability.
Tariff Pressures Contribute to Layoffs at U.S. Pet Food Factory
An Associated Press report examines manufacturing job losses, including 160 planned cuts at a Post Holdings pet food facility, amid rising tariff-related costs.
MetLife Brings Pet Insurance Shopping to ChatGPT
The insurer has integrated its pet insurance offering with ChatGPT, allowing consumers to explore coverage and obtain quotes before completing purchases on MetLife's website.
Elanco's Zenrelia Reaches More Than 2 Million Dogs Worldwide
Elanco says its canine allergy treatment has reached more than 2 million dogs across 48 countries since its 2024 launch, marking a major commercial milestone.
Vetsource Data Casts Doubt on Expected Senior Pet Boom
New Vetsource data challenges predictions of a surge in aging pandemic-era pets, suggesting veterinary practices may need to focus more on patient retention as overall patient numbers decline.
Dogness Launches AI Pet Feeder Powered by Google Gemini
Dogness introduced a smart pet feeder built with Google Cloud and Gemini AI, using cameras and behavioral monitoring to identify unusual pet activity and alert owners.
NEW DATA
We've now read the back of 3,883 dog-food recipes
And the guaranteed analysis got a lot more complete.
The Panel, The Underbite's ingredient map, just got a big update. It now covers 3,883 ingredient lists from 427 brands, up from 2,776 and 408 at launch.
3,448 recipes carry the label's guaranteed analysis, and many now show the fuller table, with lines like omega-3s and calories where we captured them. When the label gives a moisture figure, a dry-matter column sits beside the numbers, so a canned recipe and a kibble compare on the same basis.
Look up any ingredient and see how the market uses it. Put up to four brands or recipes side by side. See which brands build their recipes alike.
Want to dig into the data yourself?
Underbite Pro members get full access to The Panel. Search 3,883 recipes, read 3,448 guaranteed analyses, and explore a dataset that keeps growing.
Elon Musk Calls Waymo Robotaxis "Pet Destroyers," Promises Tesla Fix
Musk criticized Waymo over animal collisions and claimed Tesla is developing improved nighttime pet detection, though no release date has been announced.
NYC to Offer Free Pet Food at 22 Food Pantries
New York City is allocating $500,000 to supply dog and cat food at 22 food pantries, helping struggling residents afford to keep their pets.
Dog Survives 50 Hours Alone in Alaska Wilderness After Avalanche
LouLou, a four-year-old poodle-husky mix, survived two days in snowy mountains after an avalanche injured her hiking companions, with an AirTag helping rescuers locate her.
Vet Accused of Using Dead Dog's Name to Obtain Prescription Drugs
An Ohio veterinarian and alleged accomplice face charges after prosecutors say they used a deceased dog's identity to obtain more than 20 prescriptions for controlled substances.
Pet Adoption Platform Reaches 1 Million Adoptions, Reports Fewer Returns
Petszel says its post-adoption support platform has assisted one million adoptions across more than 500 shelters, with partners reporting 20% fewer returns on average.
Purina and Mariska Hargitay Team Up to Help Abuse Survivors Keep Pets
Purina's Purple Leash Project partnered with Hargitay and U.S. Soccer to raise awareness and support pet-friendly shelters for domestic violence survivors.
Pet Food Prices Rise 20% as Owners Struggle With Costs
Pet food prices have climbed roughly 20% since 2022, with nearly one-third of surveyed Dallas pet owners reporting affordability challenges as demand for pet food assistance grows.
Penn Vet Breaks Ground on $94M Animal Disease Diagnostic Facility
The University of Pennsylvania is investing $94 million in a new veterinary diagnostic laboratory focused on animal disease detection, livestock biosecurity and equine drug testing.
Golden Pet Brands
— Marketing Jobs
Outward Hound
— National Sales Manager, US Pet Specialty / Canada & Mexico
Champion Petfoods
— Financial Planning and Analysis Manager
CareVet
— Veterinary District Manager
Airvet
— VP, Strategic Partnerships
Nylabone
— Brand Manager, Marketing Innovation
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