Ava Dorsey | Founder of Ava's Pet Palace

We chatted with Ava Dorsey, the founder of Ava’s Pet Palace.

In this conversation, Ava shares how her love for animals turned into a real business at a young age, what it was like starting Ava’s Pet Palace from her family kitchen, lessons from early craft shows and TV appearances, and how she balances school, life, and entrepreneurship while continuing to grow her brand.

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Some say entrepreneurs are born not made. If that's true, you are the epitome of the saying. You drew your first business plan at 6 years old—what did you write and what was the business?

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So my first business plan was this palace-type building. It had an animal shelter, a vet, an animal restaurant, an animal daycare, and basically everything for animals. I knew that I wanted to do something good for our animals. I’ve loved them for as long as I can remember.

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You started your first business (Ava's Pet Palace) at 8 years old. What was it like starting out, how did you make it, sell it, and get the word out—and why did you decide to start a pet business?

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I love this question. When we first started, we made everything in our kitchen. We were rolling treats, packing them into bags, and putting labels on each one. At that time, we weren’t really shipping orders—we were going to local shows and meeting dogs and their families. That’s how we initially got the word out about Ava’s Pet Palace.

I was a really shy child, but going to these pet shows helped build my confidence. I also started making short animal fact videos on my IG page, which helped me get comfortable in front of the camera. I got to be around animals—which was my favorite part—and we were able to sell treats at these shows.

I was usually the youngest person there, and sometimes I felt like I wasn’t taken seriously as a nine-year-old with my own booth. But as I got older and more confident, I enjoyed these events more. We also passed out treats around our neighborhood.

We live in a very dog-friendly community. I remember putting homemade treats into little paper bags and handing them out. People would tell us about their dogs—what they could and couldn’t eat—and that really helped shape what kinds of treats we wanted to make and what we wanted to focus on.

I’ve always had a huge love for animals and knew I wanted to do something to help them. Whether volunteering at shelter events or passing out treats, I just knew this was what I loved doing.

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When you were 8 years old, you attended your first craft show. How did it go, what did you learn, and how was the overall reception?

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When we attended our first craft show in 2016, I was very nervous but also very excited. It was a Christmas show that we’ve actually attended every year since—except for 2020.

I remember not really talking to anyone at first because I was so nervous. But everyone was so kind, and when they wanted to learn more about my treats, I was happy to explain.

At the time, we packaged our treats in glass jars and displayed the wrappers from the organic products we used. Overall, it was so fun—and I still have a photo of the first $20 I ever made. I’m really thankful I got to have these experiences so young.

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Four years ago, your mother quit her job and joined Ava's Pet Palace. What has it been like working together, and how do you split responsibilities?

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Yes, that was a big change for us. I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work with my mom full-time. It was a very exciting milestone, but with milestones come challenges.

Being a mother-daughter duo definitely has its challenges. It can be hard to separate business from personal life—especially as a teenager in high school—since Ava’s Pet Palace is such a big part of our lives. But for the most part, we have a lot of fun together, and it’s really special to be able to talk business, personal life, and everything in between.

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In 2018, only two years after starting, you were invited to appear on Windy City Live with Val Warner. What was that experience like?

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This was one of the most exciting days ever. I remember it very clearly. My mind kind of went blank—I was probably the most nervous I’d ever been. It was my first interview, my first podcast-style experience, and it was live TV.

Val Warner was very sweet and helped make the interview go smoothly. I’m so grateful they found us and that I was able to do something so cool at such a young age.

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You’re currently in junior high school. How do you balance school, homework, friends, and running a business?

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Being a teenager in high school while running a business is definitely a lot. I don’t really have a specific system for balance yet—each day I’m learning new ways to feel productive and manage everything.

It can get overwhelming, but my parents are amazing and always step in when I need help or encouragement. I’m still learning how to balance everything in healthy ways.

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Since 2020, you’ve accomplished a lot—Target and other big-box stores, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Kickstarter, a commercial kitchen, a distributor, and more. What are your plans for the next four years?

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Looking ahead, I’m focused on three main things: growing our retail presence, adding two key team members, and expanding our product line.

I also want to do more beyond just the pet industry. We love the pet space, but I think it’s important to make connections in other industries too—for collaboration, learning, and growth.

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