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As a designer, I have always wanted to create something that impacts the world. The role I play in my pets' lives is a privilege I cherish. Using design thinking to solve problems in the current pet industry seems like the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact in a field that is extremely important to me.
As a pet parent, I have lived through three generations of doggos. My first dog, Nancy, was a Pomeranian (or at least that's what I thought she was). And my second dog, Bruno, was a Labrador. Both of them will always stay in my heart as two of the most pure beings that existed in this world. The way they were just excited to be with me, expecting nothing but my company. When they passed away, I was devastated. There is nothing like the pain of losing a pet. The attachment that a pet parent has towards their companion is one of the most beautiful bonds that exist.
After a few years, I was ready for that companionship again, and I decided to get a beagle. I named him Max. A couple of years later, another beagle, Neo, also joined the family.
Max and Neo somehow always needed some sort of special attention. Max was unusually small compared to other beagles, and Neo was obese and always had some allergic reactions. The main challenge was finding the right information, especially about beagles, and then finding a reliable service provider (in this case, a vet) to take care of the issue. Having the pet diary always on hand was another problem. I always find myself searching everywhere for it and end up finding it where I least expect it.
Neo especially needed special care because his immune system was bad. He wasn’t genetically gifted, and he was prone to more diseases. When I think about it now, we never knew exactly where we got Neo from. At that time, due to my lack of awareness of the existence of “puppy mills,” we just got a beagle from a “beagle breeder.” We never knew whether this puppy was vaccinated or was in good health conditions or not. We never knew the good practices of getting a puppy for the first time. We were lucky with Max and the other dogs. But not with Neo.
Neo passed away when he was six years old and to date, I regret not knowing how we could have prevented it.
His weak immune system may have been a result of “bad breeding practices” or just our lack of knowledge of what exactly he needed.
It all finally comes down to knowledge. Most people want to get a puppy without doing the proper background research on the breed, the breeder, and whether they have the capability and the time to take care of the dog. And also see if the necessary services for that dog are there around them. How does one find these things out? Now, this was a challenge to be taken seriously.
There is a lot of information out there, but it is scattered all over the place. It is up to us to find the information, make sense of it, and then double-check with the vet when we go to them. Plus, the information available does not show you where to go to sort out that problem. For example, if I am googling about a particular breed, researching its necessities, characteristics, etc., I don’t have any other calls to action. Finding the right breeder, groomer, or even finding out whether that breed will fit my lifestyle.
What is the vaccine cycle? What is the deworming cycle? What kind of weather, food, and environment does this dog need? And where do I go in case of an emergency? Is the vet near me capable of taking care of my dog? There is a lack of a proper ecosystem.
As a designer, I have always wanted to build something on my own, and I knew that joining the effort in creating a better world for pets and pet parents was one of the best ways I could scratch that itch. This effort is called ‘Happy Pet.’
Happy Pet is an effort to build an ecosystem where pet parents can find all the information needed before bringing in a new pet into their home, and also everything after that. A holistic solution for all things pet-related. Gaining knowledge about the pet’s needs, finding the right source to adopt or buy the pet from, and curating the best solutions for their pet’s healthcare, grooming, training, etc. Covering everything in one place.
Why is this different? We believe that making the lives of pet businesses easier would also help in making the lives of pet parents easier. So we build solutions for businesses and services as well. Software and tools to manage their businesses easier and integrating their business with an app on the pet parents’ phones.
There is no doubt that abandoning dogs on the street is one of the most inhumane things that someone can do. But when you look at why these things happen, it is primarily because of the lack of knowledge, and also the lack of self-awareness in the sense of how capable they are of taking care of the dog. In the current landscape, where most people go to Facebook to look for puppies that breeders have put on sale, a new pet parent will not know anything about the dog other than how it looks in that photo. Making decisions based on images alone is one of the biggest mistakes by people.
Which is why, in Happy Pet, we are trying to address this first. By providing a clear guide as to whether the pets that they are trying to keep are easy for them to maintain and provide for. Being aware of these things will help a person either confirm or reconsider their decision of getting a dog.
Taking the opportunity to join the Happy Pet Team and build something big and impactful for the world of animal lovers has been nothing short of an awesome experience. We are a group of designers, and we took the approach of building this product with deep empathy for pet parents. Along with our experience of being dog parents ourselves, we also did research on other kinds of pets.
Understanding the various parameters that need to be known about each kind of pet like fish, birds, cats, and dogs.
By thinking as designers, we were able to kickstart a project that not only covers information for pet owners but also covers an entire cycle of pet care. From finding the right pet for you to finding all the services needed for them.
In conclusion, the journey of being a pet parent is filled with love, joy, and challenges. It's crucial for every prospective pet owner to be well-informed about their chosen pet's needs, from breed characteristics to healthcare requirements. Happy Pet aims to bridge the gap in pet knowledge and services, providing a comprehensive platform for pet parents to make informed decisions and access all necessary resources for their furry companions. By empowering pet parents with knowledge and support, we hope to create a world where every pet is cherished and cared for to the fullest extent.
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