Unleashed & Unfiltered: Toni Shelaske on Raw Feeding, Retail, and Real Talk

In this episode of Toni Unleashed, the tables are turned as Erik Senders of Mika & Sammy’s interviews Toni Shelaske in a laid-back, unscripted conversation about pet nutrition, retail, and the changing pet industry. Toni shares how her career began in fashion merchandising, eventually leading her to purchase and grow Healthy Pet Products, and later sell her Pittsburgh stores to Pedagogy after 16 years. They dive into raw feeding, kibble quality, and Toni’s top recommended supplement and treat brands. From the realities of tooth cracks to supplement scams and chew safety myths, Toni offers no-nonsense takes on what’s worth feeding—and what’s just marketing. The episode also touches on industry dynamics, the impact of COVID, and how small businesses are adapting to online pressures and slim distributor margins. Toni and Erik reflect on building customer relationships, the role of education in retail, and their hopes for the future of independent pet stores.