The Unexpected Path to Purpose

Nice to meet you. My name is Mike. I never set out to create a dog fashion brand.  In fact, I never even considered myself a "dog person." I liked dogs well enough, but I didn't quite understand the depth of connection others had with their pets. Life has a way of leading us down unexpected paths, and sometimes the most meaningful journeys aren't the ones we choose – they're the ones that slowly, inevitably change us.

The Transforming Power of Love and Care

My story started when I fell in love with my girlfriend at the time, Cortney (now my wife). Initially, I was amazed by her dedication to caring for her special needs dogs – it spoke volumes about her character, watching her pour such love and attention into these vulnerable creatures. But as time went on, I discovered a beautiful truth: while she was caring for these dogs, they were quietly caring for her too.

There was Ellie, an epileptic dachshund with a heartbreaking past, having been thrown from a car window. She became Cortney's saving grace, loving her in ways that words can't fully capture. Then there was Myrtle, a blind and deaf double dapple dachshund, whose challenges never dimmed her spirit. And finally, Scout, a paralyzed dachshund who, without ever meaning to, would teach me more about love and priorities than I could have imagined.

The transformation wasn't sudden – it happened in the small moments, the daily acts of care that gradually stripped away my preconceptions about what mattered. Caring for Scout meant dealing with incontinence, changing diapers, giving multiple baths a day. We built heated dog houses, replaced ruined furniture and carpets, and adapted our lives to their needs. With each passing day, these weren't just tasks anymore – they became acts of love.

Without my even realizing it, these dogs were teaching me to let go of the superficial. What's a carpet compared to the unconditional love of a faithful companion? What's furniture worth compared to the joy they brought to our home?

Our three young daughters – now five, four, and two years old – spent their earliest years alongside these special souls. Even at their tender ages, they witnessed and absorbed these daily lessons of love, patience, and care. For seven beautiful years, our home was filled with the pitter-patter of paws and the warmth of unconditional love. The dogs had completely transformed me – not through any conscious effort of my own, but through their persistent love, their needs, their loyalty, and the daily rhythm of caring for them.

Rejecting Disposable Culture

We live in a world consumed by consumption itself – always more, always faster, always cheaper. We've created a society that values quantity over quality, speed over intention, and disposability over durability. The true cost of this obsession with cheap, disposable goods is staggering. Over 160 million children globally are trapped in child labor, working in hazardous conditions to produce the mass-market items we consume without thought. Workers in countries like Bangladesh and India earn mere cents per hour, laboring in unsafe conditions that perpetuate cycles of poverty.

 Our culture's demand for cheap, fast products has created a system where human dignity is sacrificed for profit, where environmental damage is ignored for convenience. This reality struck me particularly hard as I reflected on what our dogs had taught me about value and time. A dog's life is so heartbreakingly brief compared to our own – seven years, ten if we're lucky, maybe a few more if we're blessed. Each moment with them is precious, fleeting, irreplaceable. How could I reconcile that profound truth with the throwaway culture we live in? How could I create products worthy of these precious moments we share with our pets?

 The answer was clear: reject the culture of disposable consumption.  Choose instead to create pieces that honor both the precious time we have with our pets and the dignity of every human being in the supply chain. By sourcing materials locally, ensuring fair wages, and crafting each piece by hand in my workshop, I'm not just making pet accessories – I'm taking a stand against the exploitation embedded in global supply chains. I'm choosing to create products that reflect the value of both the moments they're meant to capture and the hands that craft them.

A Commitment to Quality, Ethics, and Meaning

Now, with our new family members – Dot (above) and Winnie (below)  – every moment feels more precious because I understand its value. When I see our young daughters – five, four, and two years old – playing with them, or capture a photo of these simple, beautiful moments, I'm moved to tears because I know how fleeting and precious these times are. Dogs' lives are so much shorter than ours; each moment deserves to be magnified, celebrated, honored with pieces crafted with as much love as they give us.

 That's why every item I create is crafted by hand, with sustainably sourced materials from here in the United States and careful attention to detail. It's why I've transformed my garage into a workshop, invested in equipment, and learned skills I never imagined I'd need. This isn't just about making dog accessories or creating a fashion-forward brand – it's about creating pieces that encourage people to slow down, to appreciate the brief, beautiful time we have with our pets, and to choose items made with intention and care over those made for quick consumption.

Each piece that leaves my workshop carries with it a commitment to both ethical production and lasting quality.  When you choose one of our products you're supporting a different way of doing business. You're choosing to value the dignity of workers, the importance of sustainable practices, and the precious nature of the moments we share with our pets. You're making a conscious decision to step out of the rushed, disposable culture and into something more meaningful.

 Every leash, every collar, every piece I create is designed to be more than just an accessory – it's meant to be a part of someone's story, a beautiful detail in their journey with their four-legged family member. Each item is crafted with the understanding that when we choose to buy less but buy better, we're not just making a purchase – we're making a statement about what we value and how we want to live. This is more than a business to me – it's a tribute to Ellie, Myrtle, and Scout, who gradually taught me the depth of love possible between humans and dogs. It's a way to help others celebrate and cherish their own precious time with their pets, to choose products that reflect the true value of these relationships.  Because in the end, what matters most isn't the things we own or the furnishings we protect – it's the love we share, the moments we cherish, and the intentional choices we make to honor these precious connections along the way