I’ve been running Neo-Paws^tm for almost 20 years now and people still ask me the same question, and that is:

“Do pets really need safety/protective gear?”

Being in the pet industry as long as I have and given the number of preventable pet injuries I come across in my work, that must be indicative of something.  I would have to answer this question today the same way that I did 20 years ago, and that would be an affirmative.

We accept animals – namely dogs – into our everyday lives and include them in activities such as hiking, rollerblading, swimming, boating, running, biking, and skateboarding, among other things. It is absolutely imperative that we protect our best friends as we protect ourselves. 

So what does that mean? 

Well, a list of equipment such as: shoes, life vests, seat belts, first aid kits, specialty collars and leashes, safety vests, portable water bowls, cooling devices and reflective accessories will ensure a dog’s safety when they participate in activities with us. 

In this vast market, where everything and anything is available to us, it’s easy to find the accessories necessary to keep our pets safe. Of course, there are some products that are of better quality better than others, so my suggestion is to study what’s available by reading up on reviews available online and by watching the videos that are  available on many pet websites, as well as on YouTube.

The reason I decided to create Neo-Paws^tm was because I used to take my dog running (actually, it was the other way around) and he would come home with bloody paws. One day I said: “Hey, dogs need shoes, just like we do”. 

The concrete, grass, sand and snow is not a safe for our dogs to be running around on vigorously. Just like humans, they need shoes to protect themselves.   Being in the business of pet safety and orthopedic footwear, I often hear about conditions that can occur when our pets are not properly taken care of, especially in their senior years. This is when we really see the effects of over-use of paws, joints, nails and bones.

I would have to say that 50-60% of my business is orthopedic-related.  I see a lot of dogs that suffer from arthritis, joint issues, degenerative myeolopathy and hip dysplasia, to only name a few.

But it doesn’t stop there.

There are many safety issues and potential problems that pet owners need to be aware of, such as cars on the street, drowning or water-related accidents, frostbite and heat exhaustion, to name a few.

Too many preventable pet accidents happen every day.  Your pets are your investments and family members, and they need to be protected.

Every day I hear pet owners utter the words:  “If only I had taken safety precautions sooner”.

I know that sometimes pet care can seem overwhelming but I urge you to remember the long-term benefits, that is, a stronger, healthier and happier pet that will exceed his/her expected life years. And isn’t that what all pet owners really want?

Be good to your animals, they love you!