Weekly Roundup
Friday · 8/14/2026 · Issue #381
Sponsor
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Quick Hits
🚨 Petlibro outage leaves smart feeders offline, causing some pets to miss scheduled meals
🩻 Travv launches free AI tool that gives vets canine heart measurements from radiographs in seconds
🚀 San Diego pet startup MoonBox raises $200K in crowdfunding within 3 hours of campaign launch.
🐱 Indianapolis Indians invite cats to the ballpark for first-ever Purr in the Park Night
🧪 WACKER receives EU approval for L-Cysteine and L-Cystine as new pet food additives across Europe
🇨🇳 China’s pet boom becomes new luxury frontier
⬆️ Joybound adds three new board members to support growth
🏆 Lovet’s veterinary care plan wins 2026 Pet Solution of the Year Innovation Award
Pet Valu Revenue Hits $290.7M as Profit Jumps 14%
The retailer delivered another solid quarter, with sales up 3.6% year over year and net income reaching $24.9 million.
Vetspire Lands Major Growth Investment From Battery Ventures
The veterinary software platform will become an independent company, with fresh backing to accelerate its AI development and expansion.
Polkadog Names New CEO Just Weeks After TAW Acquisition
Former Only Natural Pet executive Jay Pusey takes the helm as the Boston treat brand enters its next chapter under TAW Ventures.
VetRec Lands 50+ Clinic AI Rollout in Australia
A successful pilot saved more than 200 administrative hours across 1,300 visits, convincing Vets Central to take the technology network-wide.
Boehringer Ingelheim Acquires Equine Biotech Evax
The deal adds Evax's therapeutic vaccine research and technology to Boehringer's growing pipeline for horse health.
Nom Nom Takes on Fresh Food's Freezer Problem
Its new scoopable Meal Clusters skip the slicing and full thawing, making frozen feeding a little less of a production.
BIXBI Becomes First Kibble Brand With Clean Label Certification
Thirteen of the company's dog food products earned the designation, giving the brand a new differentiator in a crowded premium food aisle.
Puptqe Expands Into Georgia With First Alpharetta Location
The pet care franchise is adding another market to its footprint, with the new location bringing the brand into the state for the first time.
DogPack Brings Healthy Paws Insurance Into Its App
U.S. users can now explore coverage while using the dog-focused social platform, adding another utility beyond community and discovery.
Sparkle Grooming Signs Three-Unit Dallas Development Deal
Franchisee Sarah Mills will bring the membership-based grooming concept to Lakewood, Preston Hollow and North Dallas.
Zoetis Shares Slide as Pet Care Concerns Linger
Investors remain uneasy about softer U.S. veterinary demand, price-sensitive pet owners and growing competition in companion animal health.
DOJ Sues Darwin's Over Raw Pet Food Safety
Federal officials allege repeated contamination issues, citing FDA testing that found pathogens in roughly two-thirds of recently sampled products.
Oma's Pride Recalls Raw Pet Food Over Salmonella Risk
The affected products were distributed nationwide and could pose a health risk to both pets and people handling contaminated food.
FDA Targets Gaps in Animal Drug Access
A new three-year blueprint outlines efforts to expand treatment availability while testing new approaches to veterinary drug manufacturing.
FDA Recall Issued for Adequan Dog Medicine
Certain lots of the injectable canine arthritis treatment may contain glass fibers, prompting a nationwide recall.
Researchers Debate Shift Away From Animal Testing
New technologies are reducing reliance on traditional preclinical models, but veterinarians caution that alternatives cannot yet replace every use.
Tick Solutions Launches $35 At-Home Lyme Test
Pet owners can test a removed tick for Lyme-causing bacteria in about 10 minutes without sending it to a laboratory.
PetSmart Charities Launches Veterinary Fellowship Program
Fifteen students across five universities will join the inaugural cohort, with a focus on expanding access to community veterinary care.
MWI Reaches $100K Settlement Following DEA Investigation
The case centered on the veterinary distributor's handling and distribution of controlled substances under federal regulations.
MetLife Pet Insurance Partners With America's VetDogs
The collaboration will help raise and train a future service dog for a veteran or first responder with disabilities.
60+ Cats Rescued From Abandoned Sailboat in Washington
Authorities discovered the animals crowded aboard a vessel near Tacoma, triggering a large-scale rescue and relocation effort.
Tamara Linde
— Marketing executive with 15+ years of DTC and pet industry experience, seeking her next leadership role.
The Farmer’s Dog
— Director of Growth
Airvet
— VP, Strategic Partnerships
Rover
— Senior Director of Lifecycle Strategy
Pet Sustainability Coalition
— Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer
Rover
— Senior Marketing Manager
Embrace Pet Insurance
— Digital Analytics & Measurement Manager
Nylabone
— Brand Manager, Marketing Innovation
Wellness Pet Company
— Ecommerce Marketing Content Specialist
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