OurPetPolicy Raises $8M for Pet + ESA Management

Issue #292

January 16th, 2026

Quick Hits:

🎉 New year, new cohort: Leap Venture Studio opens its 10th cohort in partnership with TAW Ventures. Applications close March 29

😀 Which dog breeds look happiest? Science has an answer

☕️ A recent biting Incident at a Williamsburg café reignites debate on dogs in restaurants

❤️ 6 of the most loyal dogs throughout history

🏅Survey of 1,201 US dog owners highlights premium, sustainability, and wellness trifecta.

🇨🇳 The Billionaire Boom in China's Pet Market (and the Rising Business of Cat Cloning)

👶 Why Jennifer Lawrence’s dog sparked an online controversy

• OurPetPolicy closes $8M Series A - Boise-based pet policy/ESA management platform raises funding to scale.

• PRHG snaps up 2 kennels - PRHG buys Top Notch Kennels, expanding from Bay Area into California’s Central Valley.

• PRHG buys Houston Dog Ranch - Pet Resorts Hospitality Group expands deeper into Texas with new acquisition.

• Sainsbury’s doubles down on dog food - Private-label range jumps from 11 to 23 lines, plus a Battersea charity partnership.

• Mars drops $175m in Kazakhstan - Petcare giant backs new Central Asia plant as regional demand grows.

• Mars names new global Petcare president - Marc Carena steps in to lead Mars’ $30 billion petcare division in 2026.

• Vetr hits 1,000 clinics - Integrated platform + in-house treatments claims rapid nationwide clinic adoption.

• IDEXX announces new CEO - Insider Michael Erickson will become CEO in May 2026.

• Yuyu Pharma opens UCLA pet hub - Korean pharma plants a U.S. base to push deeper into petcare.

• Pet Service Holding partners with Figo - Multi-year partnership embeds pet insurance across PSH’s retail and service channels.

• PetPivot expands to five new markets - After 300,000 units sold, the company enters five new U.S. markets in 2026.

If you missed this week’s newsletters👇

Inside Open Farm’s Operating Model

How Customer Behavior Turned Into a $600 Pet Product

• Phoenix tops vet pay charts - Valley ranks among U.S.’s highest-paying metros for veterinarians and radiologists.

• Biometric collars turn dogs into data - Vets say smart collars can flag subtle health changes early.

• Farm dog “Max” named 2026 champ - American Farm Bureau and Purina honor a working farm dog and people’s choice pup.

• Dog trainer charged after cruelty video - Trainer turned herself in after online video sparked animal cruelty charges.

• AI gives shelter cats a “voice” - NYC shelter uses smartphone AI to spot feline pain faster.

• Fake service dogs bamboozle airlines - Untrained pups exploit a travel loophole, straining real service dog access.

• Copper limits spark regulatory fight - New studies suggest AAFCO could set a copper maximum in dog foods.

• BVA issues AI guidance for vets - UK veterinary body lays out principles to use AI safely and ethically.

• AI pet robot “Aura” debuts at CES - Tuya Smart launches an AI-powered companion robot for pets with emotion sensing.

• Pet Valu shares show valuation gap - Simply Wall St signals PET stock trading 26–27% below fair value with growth catalysts.

• NY proposes veterinary transaction review - Requires notice, AG review of clinic transactions over $200k; could block acquisitions

M&A Corner (Presented by Tuck Advisors)

In 2025, pet industry M&A continued to favor businesses with clear differentiation and scalable operating models. Buyer interest remained strong in platforms tied to recurring demand, improving standards of care, and professionalizing the workforce, alongside technology that expands access and drives consistent outcomes. Entering 2026, these themes remain central amid ongoing labor constraints and rising consumer expectations.

One transaction that reflects these dynamics was the acquisition of Animal Behavior College (ABC) by Peterson’s, where Tuck Advisors served as the exclusive sell-side advisor. Founded in 1998, ABC provides vocational education in dog training, grooming, and veterinary assisting. The partnership positions ABC to broaden its reach, strengthen technology-enabled delivery, and continue professionalizing the pet care workforce. Explore full strategic rationale in our deal analysis produced using Tuck Advisors’ proprietary M&A analyzer.

Looking ahead, we expect continued buyer interest across pet services, training and workforce development, and enabling software that improves operational efficiency and customer experience.

We will also be attending VMX and welcome the opportunity to connect with founders and operators across the pet ecosystem.

• VP op People at Loyal

• Email & Lifecycle Marketing Specialist at Odie Pet Insurance

• Director of Product & Fulfillment at NutriCanine

• Customer Service & Retention Specialist at NutriCanine

• Sr. Principal, Packaging Engineering at Loyal

• Account Executive (AE) - Veterinary at Hello Patient

• Mobile Part-Time Veterinarian at Vita Spot

• Science Operations Manager at Ethos Veterinary Health

• Vice President, Product Management & UX at Whisker

• Head of Marketing at Snout

• Head of Medical Quality at Bond Vet

• Associate Veterinarian at PetVet365

• Overnight ER Vet at Apex Vets

• Strategic Sourcing Manager at Native Pet

• Financial Controller at Napo

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