We are often asked, "Why does West Paw Design choose to manufacture pet products in the USA?" This is a question I enjoy answering, because all of us at West Paw Design share a passion for what we do!

West Paw Design is a company that becomes more unique every day. Not simply because of our outstanding products, quality and service, but also because we design, manufacture, sell and ship our dog and cat toys and bedding all from under one roof -- in Bozeman, Montana, USA.

We have talented and hard working employees who labor over the finest details of production, shipping and customer service. We value our team atmosphere that leads to creative breakthroughs in our product development, business and manufacturing processes. At our core, we are a true manufacturer who makes products rather than simply writing a purchase order for goods from overseas.

A great example of our innovation and conviction is our Zogoflex^® products. When developing the Zogoflex material, many assumed that purchasing injection molded toys from China would be the only practical option. However, we instead decided to put our confidence behind our Zogoflex^® material and great designs and buy an injection molding press. We moved the press to Montana and have made the toys here ever since.

This also made sense from an environmental perspective. We thought it foolish to ship raw material to a foreign country only to ship products back to the USA from that country, all the while expending a lot of energy and carbon emissions throughout the process. Furthermore, we engineered Zogoflex^® to be recyclable, reducing waste and helping the environment.

Today, many people are concerned about toy safety for children and pets. 2007 has been filled with news of potentially harmful products. For pet toys, one article, as reported by Consumer Affairs, describes the levels of heavy metals, such as lead, in pet products.

"Since lead builds up in the body, it is the total accumulation over time that is harmful." Quoted fromConsumer Affairs

Making our products in our own factory gives us a great deal of knowledge and confidence in our product safety. Relying on an off-site factory leads to many uncertainties.

 

Our sewing floor is always buzzing with the sound of sewing machines that stitch our fabric toys and beds together. I appreciate the connection to our production systems and the great people that work to produce the best cat and dog products. We know our products are safe because we build them. Our Eco Nap^® and Eco Toys are another great example of innovation that fuels the growth at West Paw Design, while minimizing impact on the environment. We source our eco friendly fabric in the USA, from a small family-owned mill. With 85% of the fabric content made from reengineered IntelliLoft™ fibers that are derived from US-origin recycled plastic bottles, this fabric has a minimal impact on the environment.

Without compromise, we make great products for pets. It is our honor to be a unique company that does what we say. We are proud to manufacture the best toys and beds and know that by providing the best, safest products we make pets and their people very happy.

Spencer Williams
President, West Paw Design