What do horse owners and sport dog lovers have in common?
Increasingly, they are both prepared to handle injuries to their beloved animals-even in the field where they can't reach a veterinarian.
Since 1994, VSI Pet Care Products has manufactured a unique line of pet and horse first aid kits, starting with the original Vet Kit™ for horses. Due to customer requests, they added specialized kits for dogs, cats and even birds. Recently, however, some of their customers seem to be "joining forces."
The best example is the Sport Dog Kit™, a product designed for hunters and field trial enthusiasts who often have thousands of dollars and hours of care invested in their dogs. Like all of these first aid kits, Sport Dog Kit™ contains all of the items most recommended by veterinarians and pet lovers to treat minor injuries or stabilize more serious wounds before seeking professional care.
So how does this relate to horsemen and women? The Sport Dog™ kit even includes treatment for gunshot wounds, a fact that has brought it to the attention of law enforcement drug handlers, backpackers and, yes, some horseback riders who take dogs into the wild.
Similar flexibility is found in the Trail Kit™ and Deluxe Trail Kit™, horse first aid kits designed to be used as self-contained saddlebags. The Deluxe Trail Kit™ is one of the most complete first aid kits available for horses, even containing a snake bit kit.
But the most "radical" use of these kits involves the owners themselves. Both horse and dog owners have reported to Pet Care Products that the kits were appreciated when a pet owner received a minor cut or other injury and found the bandages, antiseptics and other first aid components.
"We don't recommend our kits for horses and pets for people," explained Randy Hylton, executive director VSI Pet Care Products. "We've always stressed that these are serious first aid kits-we use products like metal scissors and include things like snake bite and gunshot wound kits in some of our products. If they have helped someone who was injured, we're happy."
Another aspect to the story is also important. Vocational Services, Inc., is a Liberty, Mo., not-for-profit corporation that provides employment and other opportunities for individuals with a developmental disability. A 30-year-old organization, VSI began Pet Care Products in 1993 in order to expand and ensure opportunities, as traditional jobs were increasingly lost to international competition. A major "by-product" has been the enjoyment that workers receive when their handiwork is on display at pet stores and other locations.
"We worked very hard to design a quality product that would meet the needs of pet owners," Hylton said. "But it's also gratifying that the work of our employees have been so well received. That's very exciting." VSI's first kit was the Vet Kit™, a first aid kit for horses that evolved when a trail accident proved that being prepared is important. Although the horse survived without lasting harm, the incident led Hylton to look for a comprehensive yet affordable kit that could provide emergency care until professional help was contacted. When none could be found, Vet Kit™ was developed. It quickly achieved wide appeal and has been featured in several national magazines and on television. Vet Kit™ was followed with specialized horse products such as the Trail, Foal and Barn kits. More recently, the Pet Kit™ and popular Bird Kit™ were developed.
Hylton said the development of these products is exciting but their real purpose must be kept in mind. "It's important that we constantly look for new and expanded opportunities for our employees," he said. "Products such as Sport Dog Kit™ are an excellent way to create jobs for workers with a disability. The more opportunity we create through our own efforts, the more opportunity we can offer, regardless of global economics or other factors. In today's economy, that's the best way for us to serve the community."
Sport Dog Kit™ is available individually or in dealer
groups for shops and clubs. For additional information, call (816)
781-9300 or 1-800-831-7245.
