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

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
19:54 Where to Find More Information
20:58 Conclusion and Farewell

About Toni Shelaske

Toni Shelaske is a podcast host, seasoned entrepreneur, and holistic pet wellness expert. She’s the dynamic female founder and former owner of Healthy Pet Products, Pittsburgh’s premier natural pet supply retailer. Today, Toni shares her expertise on her popular podcast Toni Unleashed, serves on the board of IndiePet to support independent retailers, and has even launched a line of Pittsburgh-themed dog toys that blend her love of pets with hometown pride.

She’s passionate about helping pet owners make healthier choices for their dogs and guiding fellow entrepreneurs on how to stand out authentically in a big-box world.

Connect with Toni:

Website: https://www.toniunleashed.com/

Toni Unleashed Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toni-unleashed/id1621733676

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toni.unleashed/.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToniUnleashed/

As always, to find out all about Soul Touched by Dogs, go to https://soultouchedbydogs.com