June is Pride Month, an annual celebration of inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer people.
Looking to get your pets involved in celebrating Pride Month? Check out these awesome LGBTQ owned pet businesses.
Barkin' Creek Dog Kitchen & Bath
Dog kitchen and services
Founders: Jeff Springer and Flint Beamon
Barkin' Creek Dog Kitchen is a family-owned and -operated business whose story begins with the love of two rescue dogs named Bea and Jax. Each pooch suffered from dietary and health issues that required a specialized diet. The Barkin' Creek team formulates recipes using only USDA approved and locally-sourced meats, fruits and vegetables to create hand-crafted, small batch meals.
Barkin’ Creek’s mission is to promote dog health and happiness through their dog meals, treats and services, so that they live longer lives.
Check out their delicious delights at barkincreek.com
Butch Basix
Dog and cat collar bowties
Founders: Ames Simpson and Susan Donaldson
Butch Basix makes “masculine”-styled goods for masculine-of-center shoppers of every gender (especially those who identify as butch). As part of creating space for those who feel excluded from gendered retail segmentation, they put a special emphasis on the characteristics of the goods sold, not the gender of the consumer.
Butch Basix also makes fun and stylish goods to keep pets looking and feeling great, too. We love their cool, vibrant bowtie collars for dogs and cats.
Find your pet’s new look at butchbasix.com
CritterGear
Handmade collars and more
Founder: Keith Kolapakka
CritterGear founder Keith Kolapakka writes, “When we extended our family with a cocker spaniel puppy named Rylee, we wanted him to look as unique and special as he is to us.” But Keith soon discovered that the pet products available in the pet stores were either “ordinary” or very expensive. That’s when he took matters into his own hands.
Looking at the results, he recalls, “We knew instantly that we just couldn’t keep it to ourselves.”
Today, CritterGear is proud to be a small business that hand-makes all of their products from home in Londonderry, NH.
Shop all the most stylish new looks at crittergear.com
Kin + Kind
Organic grooming care for sensitive skin pets
Founders: Janine and Thomas Ling
Founded by LGBTQ-identifying twins Janine and Thomas Ling, Kin + Kind makes affordable natural pet care that works while also protecting the planet. Their vet-formulated and -recommended products are made with a pets-first principle to protect your pets from unnecessary and harmful chemicals.
All Kin + Kind products are designed, formulated and made by their talented in-house team to ensure the highest efficacy and safety. Every bottle is lovingly mixed, labeled and shipped by employees who are paid a responsible living wage. And of course, nothing is ever tested on animals.
Find your new favorite scent at kin-kind.com
Wondercide
All-natural flea/tick pet sprays
Founder: Stephanie Boone
Wondercide was started in 2009 when Luna, founder Stephanie’s beloved Akita-Husky mix, became seriously ill from sensitivities to commonly recommended flea-and-tick medication.
Through a process of discovery and ingredient research, Stephanie nursed Luna back to health and founded Wondercide to help other pet parents with allergy-sensitive pets. Starting by mixing batches by hand for local farmers markets, Stephanie has since appeared on “Shark Tank” and helped to protect countless pets.
Learn more about this revolutionary product at wondercide.com