Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Opportunity: Dog owners allow their dogs to consume and play with toxic materials because they are unaware of what is actually good and bad for their pets.

The who: Dog owners

The what: They allows their dogs to consume and play with toxic materials

The why: They are unaware of what is actually good and bad for their pets

Testing the who: While dog owners have this need, owners of other types of pets probably occasionally have similar problems. Dogs are probably the most vulnerable however, since it is hard to keep things away from them and they love putting everything in their mouths. People that have done lots of research would hopefully not have a problem.

Testing the what: Because other countries have different regulations on what is allowed and not allowed in pet treats, the biggest problem arises from imported products. What is deemed safe in one country may actually in fact be harmful to our precious dogs.

Testing the why: Products may say they were tested safe for dogs, but they may have gone through different testing than other products. Pet owners will often just see dog treats and toys and buy either whatever is cheapest or things labeled as safe. Dog owners need to take more initiative to research what is in these products and make sure they are not doing any harm to their pet.

Interview #1: In this interview, the dog owner showed concern for their pet. Being a college student, they do not have as much money to work with as they would like. This results in them buying cheaper products and not truly knowing what the best cheap option to give their dog is.

Interview #2: In this interview, the dog owner was not concerned about their dog. They were a middle aged adult and believed their pet was living a healthy lifestyle. They did not think any of the products they give their dog is a problem.

Interview #3: In this interview, the interviewee did not own a dog, but instead owned a cat. While he did not fear for his own cat, he expressed some concern pet owners other than dog owners could have. His cat tends to nibble on small things and then spit them out, but he is cautious to keep his cat away from harm.

Interview #4: In this interview, the dog owner was originally not concerned for their dog. After letting them know some of the harmful products out there, they thought something needed to be changed. They were guilty of giving their dog rawhide products at times and did not know the harm it could cause.

Interview #5: In this interview, the dog owner was not concerned for their dog. They are really close to their pet and tries to find the healthiest options for their dog. They did bring up a past experience in which their crayfish died shortly after switching the food they provided for them. They believe there are other concerns besides dogs.

From these interviews, I discovered that there might be more of a market than just dog owners. Multiple interviewees showed concern for pets other than their dogs. I also discovered that some people are just going to be oblivious to potentially harmful products because they do not see anything wrong in their situation. Price is also a concern for some. Generally lesser tested products are cheaper than ones tested vigorously. Some people are indeed unaware of the harms of certain products and think it should be more well-known.