Pet Industry News
The deals, launches, and strategic moves behind the brands and operators shaping the industry.
Escalade Buys ASL Solutions, Betting on Pet Hard Goods
Escalade, the public sporting goods company behind Goalrilla and STIGA, has acquired ASL Solutions, a founder-owned manufacturer of insulated dog and cat houses. The deal, terms undisclosed, hands Escalade a rotational molding capability it didn't have before and marks its first move into pet hard goods.
Dutch Recruits Tara Lipinski as "Chief Pet Officer" to Push Access Narrative as Vet Costs Bite
Dutch named Olympic champion Tara Lipinski its Chief Pet Officer, tying the move to a Pet Care Gap Report claiming 75 million Americans skip vet care.
Petwealth Launches Functional Health Testing Platform with Kennel Connection and Pawp Partnerships
Petwealth, a Miami-based diagnostics platform, emerged from stealth with $1.7M in funding and exclusive partnerships with Kennel Connection and Pawp. The startup offers at-home PCR testing screening 100+ health markers for dogs and cats, positioning itself in the growing functional pet health market.
Chewy Is Buying Modern Animal — and Betting That Owning the Vet Is the Moat
Chewy has agreed to acquire Modern Animal, the tech-forward veterinary platform with 29 clinics and over 100,000 member families, adding $125 million in run-rate revenue and scaling Chewy Vet Care to 47 locations. The deal connects Chewy's commerce engine with Modern Animal's proprietary clinical tech and membership model, creating a closed-loop healthcare ecosystem that pressures every major veterinary consolidator.
Chase Sapphire Now Treats Pet Spending Like Travel and Dining
Chase Sapphire Reserve added pet stores and veterinary services as a Pay Yourself Back category for Q2 2026, while offering 100% cashback on Pawp's telehealth subscription. The move puts pet spending alongside grocery and dining in Chase's premium rewards ecosystem, signaling that financial services companies are treating pet care as a permanent cardholder retention tool.
Fly Alliance Bets on Private Jet Lounges for Dogs — Signaling Affluent Pet Owners' Willingness to Spend Big
Fly Alliance opened the Jet Paw Lounge at Teterboro Airport, a first-of-its-kind private aviation terminal designed for dogs. The infrastructure investment signals that affluent pet owners are willing to pay premium prices for stress-free travel.
Cheerble Bets on Pumpless Design as Smart Pet Fountains Move From Gimmick to Utility
Cheerble launched the cordless Elfin D1 Pro, a pumpless drinking fountain designed for dogs. The move reflects the pet tech category's maturation toward practical, maintenance-focused products over gimmick-driven features.