# Toni Shelaske - What Happens When One Dog Mom Decides the Pet Industry Can Do Better

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/soul-touched-by-dogs-6619614/toni-shelaske-what-happens-when-one-dog-mom-decides-the-pet-industry-can-do-better
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/soul-touched-by-dogs-6619614/toni-shelaske-what-happens-when-one-dog-mom-decides-the-pet-industry-can-do-better.md
Podcast: [Soul Touched by Dogs](https://stenobird.com/podcast/soul-touched-by-dogs-6619614)
Published: 2025-09-17T14:54:08+00:00
Episode link: https://soultouchedbydogs.transistor.fm/episodes/toni-shelaske-what-happens-when-one-dog-mom-decides-the-pet-industry-can-do-better
Audio file: https://p.podderapp.com/1495290720/media.transistor.fm/334aa427/a69d5a83.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/soul-touched-by-dogs-6619614/episodes/toni-shelaske-what-happens-when-one-dog-mom-decides-the-pet-industry-can-do-better
Duration seconds: 1301

## Resource

When one chance encounter with a groomer feeding raw chicken legs made Toni Shelaske stop in her tracks, she had no idea it would set her on a path to becoming one of Pittsburgh’s most influential voices in pet wellness. From running her own pet sitting business to building four thriving natural pet supply stores, and now hosting the Toni Unleashed podcast, Toni has always been driven by curiosity, courage, and the belief that pets - and their people - deserve better. In this conversation, Toni shares how she turned a lightbulb moment into a movement, what she learned as a female founder in the pet industry, and why she’s passionate about helping both pet parents and indie retailers stand tall in a big-box world. Key Takeaways The spark that changed everything – how a single conversation in a grooming shop led Toni to rethink everything she knew about pet food. From burnout to business owner – why she left pet sitting and took the leap into retail. The truth behind “cheap” pet food – and why Toni believes investing in quality food pays off at the vet. Entrepreneurship unleashed – how Toni grew from one small shop to four thriving locations. Why indie voices matter – Toni’s mission to support independent pet retailers in a world dominated by big-box chains. Favorite Quote “The moment you start feeding real food, your dog becomes a different animal — brighter eyes, cleaner teeth, softer coat, more energy. It just creates a different being.” – Toni Shelaske Grab a cuppa and enjoy! 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:24 Meet Tony: A Journey with Dogs 01:45 Discovering Raw Food for Dogs 05:15 Building a Raw Food Business 07:07 The Benefits of Raw Feeding 08:22 Challenges and Misconceptions 14:51 Recommended Raw Food Brands 17:38 Freeze-Dried Food: A Convenient Alternative…

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## Transcript

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