November 28, 2004
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Brian Day, a Central Point police officer, has developed a
medical-information packet that fits on dog and cat collars. Sporting
the collar is Basil, a dachshund.
Mail Tribune /
Jim Craven
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In sickness and in health
Medical histories now can be included in a pet’s collar — saving time, and maybe lives
By MARK FREEMAN
Mail Tribune
A medical-information packet finding favor among motorists and motorcyclists is now going to the dogs.
A Central
Point company called Rescue Facts, which unveiled a medical-information
packet for seat belts this spring, now is marketing a similar
fact-sheet fastener that can fit onto dog and cat
collars.
The soft-mesh strap contains a pouch for a 4-inch-square card on which owners can list medical information about their pets.
"It goes
beyond the dog tag, beyond the license," says Brian Day, one of the
company co-owners. "It’s the equivalent of a medical bracelet."
The
emergency information includes medical conditions, allergies,
medications taken by the animal and a consent for veterinarians to
treat the animal for any injuries.
Other information includes name and information about the dog, the owners and the primary veterinarian.
There is even a small space for a photo.
Rescue Facts has contracted with a Los Angeles manufacturer to build the nylon straps, which they call Best Friend Care.
The first 1,500 are expected to be available for sale in four weeks, Day says.
They will sell for $8.49 over the Internet at the company’s Web site, www.rescuefacts.com. However, Day expects to sell them for $5.99 through local veterinarians and pet stores.
The medical-information card is drawing interest within the veterinary field.
"I like the idea of the consent to treat," says Kay Boydston, practice manager at the Siskiyou Veterinary Hospital in Medford.
"Every week
one of the veterinarians will see a dog or cat with no identification
and no way of getting hold of the owners," Boydston says. "It’s really
terrible when we have
an animal but don’t have authorization to treat."
The dog
collars are the latest of a string of emergency-information systems
developed by Day, a Central Point police officer, and partner John
Mulry, a former emergency medical technician.
The
original Rescue Facts strap fits onto a car safety belt so responders
to motor vehicle accidents can have immediate access to patient
information.
Rescue Facts then developed a similar but smaller card and holder to fit comfortably on the straps of motorcycle helmets.
Then one of Day’s friends saw it and asked for one for her dog, Day says.
Day
searched pet Web sites and realized there are more than 300 types of
illnesses and afflictions that affect dogs, so he anticipated a market
for the pet-centered rescue cards.
Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail
mfreeman@mailtribune.com
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