CIVT Podcast : Tonya Coulthard

Tonya Coulthard is the co-founder of B&T Pets, a Canadian women-owned and operated company committed to improving the 'healthspan' of pets through single-ingredient, minimally processed treats made from ethically sourced novel proteins.

Tonya’s path to founding B&T Pets wasn’t a straight line. She earned her MSc from the University of British Columbia in 2005 and spent 18 years working alongside scientific researchers studying some of the most prevalent human diseases, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, asthma, and pulmonary disease. Over time she felt pulled towards a change, wanting to make a meaningful impact.

As the owner of two dogs suffering from allergies, she struggled to find trusted Canadian-made treats with clean, single ingredients. As Tonya’s pets aged, she pondered “how can we delay the onset of age-related illness and debilitating pain - not just for my pets, but for every pet?”. That question sparked her shift from employee to entrepreneur and gave B&T Pets its purpose.

Today, every small handmade batch of treats is prepared from Canadian-sourced ingredients (except kangaroo), designed to support longevity, mobility, and overall wellbeing. From seal and venison to kangaroo, duck, rabbit, and walleye, every protein has a purpose. Tonya aims to help enable pet owners to choose healthy and appropriate treats with confidence.