Meet Jackie Carr | Founder & Co-Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Carr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for PVO Pet Collective really came from my own experience as a dog mom. I have three dogs, and like so many pet parents, I’m always searching for the highest quality treats, wellness products, and gear to keep them happy and healthy. But I also care about aesthetics. And I found that most of the design-forward or trendy pet brands weren’t available in stores, especially locally. As an elder millennial, I still love the experience of touching and feeling things before I buy, especially when it comes to my dogs. I know not every product or supplement will work for every dog, and I wanted to create a space that allowed people to explore, sample, and discover the best for their pets without the pressure or uncertainty of shopping online.

PVO is meant to be a one-stop shop where pet parents can find high-quality, thoughtfully curated products — plus a sense of community. We want to be a space that puts dogs first, whether that’s through events, local shelter partnerships, or personalized care that big-box stores just can’t offer. At the end of the day, I’m a dog mom first and a business owner second, and that perspective shapes everything we do.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career path has been anything but linear. But looking back, every twist and turn prepared me for what I’m doing now. I started out in textbook publishing, moved into magazines, and bounced between the two until the print industry began to shift (read: die). Faced with a major crossroads, and much to my parent’s dismay, I decided to follow my childhood passion and enrolled in professional makeup artistry school. I took every class offered, eventually subbed for the school, and built a career as a working makeup artist — one that allowed me to express my creativity and actually earn a living from it.

After a few years, life threw me another curveball. I went through a divorce, which pushed me back into the corporate world. This time, I pivoted into digital publishing and eventually advertising, working my way up to Associate Creative Director. From there, I made the jump to tech, where I built and led a global content team for several years. But the bigger the company got, the more creatively unfulfilled I felt. That’s when I found myself thinking constantly about dogs: my own, my friends’, even strangers’ dogs. I want to pet them all.

And that’s when the idea hit me: I had all the skills — content creation, branding, marketing, leadership — to build something of my own. Something that could serve dogs and the people who love them. So I started small. I developed a brand identity, created a logo, filed the LLC, and took it one step at a time. That’s how PVO Pet Collective was born.

We’re currently online only while we build out our physical space. This gives us the chance to learn directly from our community — what they want, what they need, and what’s missing from the local pet market. We’re not trying to be just another pet store on the corner, so to speak. I want PVO to feel like a curated experience. A place where you can discover cool, functional, high-quality products, sample before you commit, and feel confident your pet is getting the best. And a place where you can hang out with your dog, take photos in the photo studio (professional or for fun), and attend first aid classes to make you a more informed pet parent.

What sets me apart is that I approach this business through a creative and strategic lens. I bring years of experience in storytelling, branding, and leadership — and I’m also just a dog-obsessed person who genuinely cares about the customer experience. PVO is the most personal project I’ve ever worked on, and I’m proud that it reflects not just my career experience, but my heart.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question. As an Atlanta transplant, I make the intentional choice to love this city every day — not feel stuck in it. Atlanta has so much to offer, and I’d want my best friend’s visit to feel like a perfect mix of local flavor, iconic sights, and a little peek into my own personal Atlanta story.

We’d kick off with the option to hit a few of the city’s greatest hits, because, let’s be real, where else can you stand face-to-face with whale sharks? Gotta check Georgia Aquarium off the list.

From there, I’d balance things out with local gems. One morning we’d grab breakfast at Sun in My Belly and another we’d hit up Ria’s Bluebird. For dinner and drinks, I’d plan nights out at Dead End Drinks and Poor Hendrix, both neighborhood favorites. And at least one night would end with late-night vibes at Lore and Church Bar on Edgewood.

We’d definitely walk the BeltLine — it’s practically a requirement when the weather’s nice — and maybe do a little window shopping in Little Five Points, where I lived for nearly eight years on Euclid. I’d also take them to Ponce City Market because I worked in that building for a few years and it feels like part of my Atlanta DNA.

For something a little more serene, I’d hope the weather holds and take them to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We might also explore Oakland Cemetery, which is unexpectedly peaceful and historic, and catch a show at Shakespeare Tavern or Dad’s Garage.

We’d plan one night for a progressive dinner on Buford Highway, hopping from dumplings to pho to bubble tea. And for a special meal, I’d take them to Little Sparrow, which feels like a perfect blend of neighborhood charm and elevated dining.

In the end, I’d want their visit to feel like a love letter to the version of Atlanta I know and adore: creative, surprising, and full of heart.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely! This shoutout goes to my mom. After feeling unfulfilled in my corporate job, I called her one day with what probably sounded like a wild idea: ‘Let’s open a pet store — but not just any pet store.’ I launched into my whole longwinded pitch, expecting her to have a million questions or pump the brakes. But instead, without hesitation, she said, ‘I’m in.’ And that was it — the beginning of PVO Pet Collective.

This business simply wouldn’t exist without her. She trusted the vision before it was even fully baked and jumped in feet first with me. She’s not only the best mom and my biggest cheerleader, but now she’s also my business partner. I feel incredibly lucky that I get to say that.

Website: https://www.pvopetcollective.com

Instagram: @pvopetcollective, @jacquelinagirl

Facebook: pvopetcollective

Other: Tik Tok: pvo.pet.collectiv