Cool Things That Dr. Tim Likes

At the Global Pet Expo in Spring 2011, Dr. Tim came across the Paw Wash – a device that helps you get your dog’s paws clean after a romp outdoors. He thought the device was pretty cool; but the story and person behind the product was even more so.

At the age of 12, Katie Mulich would get frustrated when trying to clean up her dog’s paws before letting her back in the house. Sadie, a German Shepherd/Labrador Mix, was just a puppy at the time and never failed to get muddy when running around their family farm in Louisburg, Kansas. Katie found a length of PVC pipe in the barn, put a cap on the end, and filled it with soap and water. She put Sadie’s paws in, one by one, and the suction of her homemade device magically removed the dirt and gravel from the paw pads, fur, and in between the toes. With a school science fair coming up, it was the perfect opportunity for Katie to perfect and test her invention. Needless to say, she won the top prize at the science fair; a patent soon followed.

Now, at age 21, Katie is a student at the University of Kansas – she will graduate next fall with a degree in film and media studies, with a minor in business. That business minor should come in handy, as the Paw Wash went retail just ten months ago. To date, over 2000 units have been sold and Katie has secured her first big distributor after placing 3rd in the New Pet Products category at industry trade show Super Zoo this past September. One Dollar from the sale of each unit will be donated to Wayside Waifs, a no-kill, not-for-profit humane society and animal welfare organization in Katie’s home state (www.waysidewaifs.org). The cause is especially close to Katie’s heart, as her dog Sadie was adopted as a puppy; one of a litter of twelve puppies, Sadie was the only one adopted; the remainder of the litter was euthanized. By donating to Wayside Waifs, Katie hopes to help more animals find homes before they are given up on.

In the future, Katie hopes to formulate a special cleanser to compliment the Paw Wash; but for now, she recommends a gentle cleanser without a lot of suds. For more information on the paw wash, and to learn more about Katie’s story, check out http://thepawwash.com/.