Peggy interviewed Todd Dittman, Executive Director of IndiePet, a trade association representing independent and neighborhood pet stores. Todd explained that IndiePet was formed about 5 years ago to help small pet stores compete against mass merchandisers like Chewy and Amazon, currently representing 150 supplier members and 400 retailers with 1,600 store locations. They discussed the benefits of shopping at independent pet stores, including personalized product knowledge, ability to test products with pets present, and enhanced customer experience through services like grooming and self-bathing. Todd highlighted their annual Neighborhood Pet Store Day event happening September 25-27, 2026 which expects over 3,000 participating stores across the country, and mentioned that membership for retailers is only $50 per store per year. The conversation also covered upcoming trade shows like Global Pet Expo and SuperZoo, where new product innovations are showcased, and Todd shared his personal passion for working in the pet industry after previously working in retail and store fixtures.

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Peggy Hoyt interviewed Jamie Smith, CEO and co-founder of Innovative Pet Lab, about their at-home pet health testing services. Jamie explained that Innovative Pet Lab was founded by three former human diagnostics professionals who recognized gaps in pet healthcare testing, particularly for gut health issues. The company offers stool-based tests that screen for inflammation, immunity, leaky gut, digestion, microbiome status, detoxification, stress levels, and parasites, with results providing actionable recommendations for dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle modifications. Jamie shared that their tests can help identify health issues before symptoms appear, allowing pet parents to address problems proactively rather than reactively. The company recently launched tests for horses and is working on partnerships with pet food and supplement brands to validate product claims. Jamie offered listeners a 25% discount code (GUTHEALTH25) for any test when visiting: https://www.innovativepetlab.com/discount/GutHealth25 , and encouraged them to sign up for the newsletter to learn about upcoming trials and brand partnerships.

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Peggy interviewed Anette Torjussen, founder of the Nordic School of Holistic Equine Therapy. Anette shared her 22-year journey from accounting to becoming an equine therapist, explaining how horses taught her humility and the importance of looking beyond symptoms to understand the whole horse. She discussed her comprehensive two-year education program starting August 14th at the Wild Horse Rescue Centre in Florida, which combines osteopathy, acupuncture, and craniosacral therapy approaches. Anette emphasized that horses constantly communicate through movement, posture, and behavior, and owners should focus on understanding what horses are trying to tell them rather than assuming bad behavior. The interview concluded with plans for Anette to visit Peggy's facility in Florida in December and potential collaboration on Peggy's horse sanctuary project.

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