Petropolist

 Almost any cat behavior problem can be handled if the pet owner is willing to understand the cats' needs.  In this episode, Dr. Rachel Geller Ed.D., Cat behavior counselor, and humane education specialist answers all my questions about kitty behavioral problems.  

Our discussion starts with the hated litter box and furniture scratching problems which are two of the main causes of animal abandonment  - many people actually open the door and just throw the cat out.  No animal deserves this and this episode arms you with all of the tools you need to understand and resolve problems that arise because cat owners just don't know where to go and how to handle these sticky situations.

 Let's face it, the internet and most pet retail stores are often not the best sources of accurate information especially when the pet owner is in a state of high-level frustration and is unsure how to even verbalize the various aspects of the problems that are occurring. 

This episode walks you through the litter box and furniture scratching issues, cat on cat aggression, use of catnip, separation anxiety, and stress. Why laser toys are TERRIBLE and why the fishing pole toys are amazing.  

Guess what, your cats are affected by the loss of predictability - you can relate, can't you?  Isn't this something you experienced and perhaps became anxious from when Covid19 first hit home?  For our cats it is real and it's often caused by stressors we do not even realize are stressors.  Listen and learn  - Dr. Geller is a wealth of information for all cat lovers, new cat owners, and those considering adding a kitty to their lives.  

If you want to learn more or need help with your cat contact: Dr. Rachel Geller 

All proceeds from Dr. Geller's book are donated to animals. 

Please help yourself and an animal in need by purchasing this amazing book:  SAVING THE WORLD ONE CAT AT A TIME

*The views, information or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of its employees. The Petropolist is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site.  The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

This podcast is available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this podcast.*

Nhlanhla "Fats" Dlamini is the founder and CEO of Maneli Pets in South Africa and Nandi Pets Inc in the US.  His company was the first African company to export pet food to the US. The company now exports to 12 countries while employing hundreds of people in his native South Africa.

Nandi means “delicious” in the Zulu language. Nandi treats are 100% African and this isn’t the only thing that makes them special. Their treats are made from sustainably sourced proteins free from hormones and routine antibiotics. All treats are made without artificial preservatives, added grains, or unnatural fillers.  Each purchase of Nandi treats helps with keeping the South African communities working. 

Here is a little more information about Fats: 

Prior to founding Maneli Pets, Fats worked for McKinsey & Company for 5 years in their South African and U.S. offices, and also for Morgan Stanley as an investment banker in London. While at McKinsey, Nhlanhla "Fats" established the McKinsey-Golden Key scholarships for top achieving students at Wits University and the University of Cape Town.

Mr. Dlamini holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with Distinction) from Wits University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (with Distinction) from the Wits Business School, an MPhil in Development Studies from Oxford University, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. His Masters’ thesis on youth unemployment in South Africa earned him a Distinction at Oxford. He is a Goldman Sachs Global Leader and a 2008 Rhodes Scholar. He was also recognized as one of the 100 global Leaders of Tomorrow at the St. Gallen Symposium in 2013.  He has also done a brief stint as a DJ in England and has traveled to over 60 countries...and he is only 36 years old :)

Listen to this interview wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

*The views, information, or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of its employees. The Petropolist is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site.  The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

This podcast is available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this podcast.*

Greg Tilford founder of Animal Essentials is an author,  lecturer, and teacher in the field of veterinary botanical medicine.

65 million pet owners used some sort of natural therapies to treat their pets – this # is from statistics gathered in 2006 – wow, 14 years ago. Today, with social media, celebrity pets, celebrity pet foods, celebrity pet health bloggers, documentaries about pet foods, and the most outspoken celebrities in the pet sector, yes, those celebrity holistic vets this number has probably skyrocketed by now. 

So do we actually understand what natural means? Or what a holistic approach to health and wellness stands for?

This episode truly captures the facts about all of this.

As an author, teacher and entrepreneur Greg Tilford, has been in the world of natural health and wellness way before social media and certainly before everybody and their mother became an expert and a celebrity something or other. His knowledge is rooted in the application of using the earth's natural resources to heal. Greg’s insightful wisdom of the fundamentals of health and wellness will guide you to get on the right path for both you and your pets.

http://animalessentials.com/

*The views, information, or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of its employees. The Petropolist is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site.  The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

This podcast is available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this podcast.*

I've known the founders of Fegnion for several years.  Alma Dervisevic and Joe Scoleri are both doctors of pharmacy who are working in their filed of pharmacy and they are also manufacturing a truly high quality stand out raw cat food because they LOVE their animals and understand the value of a high-quality diet that is species-appropriate.  It is this simple - I do not use this platform to promote brands - this is not a promo for their brand - this is about providing information for the pet owners so they can make informed choices when they shop for their pets food.  There is just too much misinformation on the web and the pet food consumer seems more confused than informed.  This is for the people that want to be able to choose based on real information - the people providing this information happen to be making raw cat food because of love and joy - that is real. 

First-time customers of Fegnion? get 10% off your next delivered order by using the following code when you check out:   TAZZ10

https://fegnion.com/cart/

*The views, information, or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of its employees. The Petropolist is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site.  The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

This podcast is available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this podcast.*

Retailers and pet owners: Demand education - ask questions - isn't it time we actually do something about animal health and welfare instead of just pretending?  Pet retail: we cannot outrun a company like Chewy's. How many of you finally have an online store? That cannot be the only thing you're doing to keep your customers coming back - Indy's cannot outrun a company like Chewys if we are not standing out and if we are not being different - it's time to start being great, being informative and innovative - it's time to ask better questions and demand education and ask for support.  We need to keep the independent pet businesses successful for the well being of the customers we are serving  - I am a customer and I want to be able to go to my local store and have the option of buying products that are BETTER - that will help my animals thrive. This way of doing business will allow the brands that are running ahead and are concerned about animal welfare and the environment and the financial well being and growth of their customers - the independent pet retailers (and the consumer),  come out on top. 

Here is a great place to start: 

Check out Jim's article with the 10 questions to ask when selecting your pet food: 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-help-select-right-food-your-dog-jim-galovski/

*The views, information, or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of its employees. The Petropolist is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site.  The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

This podcast is available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this podcast.*

Jim Galovski received his bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester in 1992. Over the next quarter-century, Jim worked at Nestle Purina, Mars Pet Care (Royal Canin), and Blue Buffalo in a variety of roles; from territory manager and team leader to Director of Global Supply Chain Solutions and Director of Veterinary Commerce. He also has consulted for a half dozen other pet food companies in various stages ranging from start-ups to established global players. Jim currently serves on the Advisory Boards of Bond Pets, LLC, and PetMio.

Here are the Chewyminator and the Is it too late to save the independent pet retailers articles that led me to this interview  - The lessons for the indy's to be able to thrive can be found in both of these articles - Jim lays it out with detailed precision - I hope you read both of these articles and if you are an indy, get the Guardian brand into your stores and learn how to sell it along with other products you have in your freezers and products you cannot get online - start understanding what makes you, the independent retailer different and start playing big - stand out and stand apart from the rest...If you need help let me know ;) & please excuse all of the background noise between Jim's computer and NYC police sirens you get to be in our living rooms for these interviews.  Nothing beats being real. 

Guardian Pet Food

*The views, information, or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of its employees. The Petropolist is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site.  The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

This podcast is available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this podcast.*

I asked Lonnie Schwimmer, CEO & founder of Koha Pet Food & Nootie products to join me in discussing an article just published in Pet Product News by David Lummis who is the lead pet market analyst for Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, and author of Packaged FactsU.S. Pet Market Outlook, 2020-2021: Responding to the COVID-19 Impact:  

The title of the article is: What will the Pet Industry Look Like After the COVID 19 Pandemic Subsides? 

I read this article a few times hoping to see if there was anything I could take away from it as it pertained to myself and the independent pet retailers that are trying to maneuver and make it through the day-to-day. 

You will certainly hear my thoughts but I wanted to also speak to and learn from someone who deals with the independent retailers, the distributors and the on-line platforms like Chewy's - Lonnie provides this perspective  - here are two views of this article and the information it's providing and not providing. 

*The views, information, or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of its employees. The Petropolist is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this and other sites.  The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services. This podcast is available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this podcast.*

Happy Independence day. 

I love this episode - it is the epitome of what independence is about - leadership and teamwork. 

This is what Paul and his team at Woof Gang Bakery have created for their franchisees. Yes, it's that simple. 

https://woofgangbakery.com/

Doobert connects volunteers (almost 30,000) with organizations that need them.  These volunteers act as transporters, foster homes, photographers, food suppliers, you name it... and they use Doobert to specify how they are able to help.  

We support organizations (almost 5,000) with tools that they need to connect with and manage volunteers.  

Some of the organizations Doobert works with are Best Friends Animal Society, Assistance Dogs International, Rescue Transport USA, English Setter Rescue Association, and many more.  

Chris's vision for Doobert started as connecting the disparate organizations across the country to safely move animals to where they need to go for adoption or placement to adding fosters, feeders, TNR, adoptions, and more.  

The goal is to make it easy for potential adopters to find their perfect new family member online, complete the application and purchase requirements (like food, litter boxes, collars, etc...)  and then safely deliver the animal to their new home. 

 With more than 800,000 companion animals needlessly killed in the U.S. each year, more and more people are looking to adopt instead of buying through pet stores and breeders and Doobert is making a seamless experience possible by integrating the technology that the organizations need to connect them with the people looking to adopt and volunteer.  

Doobert is about supporting the ongoing relationships that volunteers want to have with organizations and the relationships that adopters want to have with organizations that helped save their animals.  

Doobert is looking for sponsors that believe in our life-saving work and that want to contribute towards completing our vision including no healthy and treatable animals dying in shelters when there are loving homes in other communities. Animal shelters should be resources to their communities and provide support including low-cost veterinary services, safety nets for families needing food and supplies for their animals, and education and professional support for the care of all animals in their community, owned or wild.  The vision is to create a new revenue model for these shelter and rescue organizations that are not dependent solely on donations or government funding, and that supports how people purchase products and services for their pets.  

Technology is not the only piece of the puzzle however technology provides a significant enabler towards reaching these goals and bridging the gaps that exist today.  We know our sponsors want to reach passionate animal lovers, both volunteers & professionals that are focused on helping animals and the people who care for them and we plan to be the company that provides that connection at every capacity. 

Want to know more? Connect with Chris at [email protected]

Today's episode is all about what it takes to get pet products through the distribution channels, into the hands of retailers, and of course to the consumers.  

My interview with Kristy Menner and Kyle Wessels of Legacy Solutions has so much great information for pet brands that want to know what it takes to maneuver the pet sector. Their extensive backgrounds in distribution and manufacturing may help guide those that are interested in entering this sector or for those that don't have the resources to bring on a full sales team to manage the process of getting their brand the recognition it needs to create value for retailers and a place on every store shelf.  

*The views, information, or opinions expressed during The Petropolist podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of its employees. The Petropolist is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site.  The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

This podcast is available for private non-commercial use only. You may not edit, modify or re-distribute this podcast.*