Pet Industry News
The deals, launches, and strategic moves behind the brands and operators shaping the industry.
Pets will shape travel plans for 68% of owners, Subaru survey finds
A Subaru-commissioned Talker Research survey of 2,000 pet-owning drivers, released October 13th, 2026, says 68% expect their pet to affect travel plans this year and 73% would drive instead of fly to bring the pet. New in this release, 10% may host, 10% may shorten a trip and 8% may skip gatherings. In our view, the trip-length and planning numbers are the ones sitters and kennels can use.
Most Vet AI Companies Won't Show Their Numbers. Vetology Just Published All of Them.
Vetology expanded its public AI performance dashboard to eleven metrics per classifier across 89+ conditions, backed by 300,000+ validated patient cases. The move highlights a transparency gap in veterinary AI, where a 2026 audit found nearly two-thirds of vendors disclose no validation data publicly.
The Farmer's Dog Is Launching on Walmart. The DTC Playbook Just Got a New Chapter.
The Farmer's Dog is launching personalized, human-grade meal plans on Walmart.com in April, marking the $1.2 billion DTC brand's first-ever retail distribution channel. The move puts a real competitor in Freshpet's retail territory and signals that the fresh pet food category is ready for mass-market scale.
Zoom Room Taps Former Petco CEO Ron Coughlin as Chairman. Pet Services Just Got a New Power Player.
Zoom Room has named former Petco CEO Ron Coughlin as chairman of the board and hired a new CFO from the franchise world. The moves position the 57-location dog training franchise for accelerated national expansion, targeting 550 locations by 2030.
BARK's 1-for-20 Reverse Split Is a Survival Move. The DTC Pet Reckoning Continues.
BARK approved a 1-for-20 reverse stock split effective April 1 to maintain its NYSE listing after shares fell 97% from their 2020 peak. The company disclosed $15.4 million in tariff costs and ended a strategic review without pursuing a sale, raising questions about the DTC pet subscription model at scale.
Serenity Vet Lets Relief Vets Build Their Own Networks, Cutting Marketplace Fees
Serenity Vet expanded its network feature to relief veterinarians, letting them invite clinics they already work with and manage scheduling and invoicing without marketplace fees. The move challenges transactional staffing platforms with a relationship-driven model.
Scrub Daddy Enters Pet Through Licensing Deal, Signaling Mainstream Brand Migration
Scrub Daddy has signed a licensing deal with Pets + People to launch pet stain and odor cleaning products in 2027. The partnership highlights how mainstream consumer brands are using licensing to enter the $14B pet cleaning market without building from scratch.