Manchester-based entrepreneurs, Felix Robinson and son Tom, who set up their company Pet Trust UK to make the buying of dogs online safer, believe their digital DogTag could help prevent the unnecessary death of pets.
Since the government’s decision to ban XL Bully, Felix and Tom have learned that euthanisation of a dog can happen in the owner’s home with only suspicion of the breed considered a satisfactory justification, rather than actual proof of the breed.
As a result, they have speeded up production of the Dog Tag. The first version of the product will allow owners of any dog at risk of the bans to upload the documents, ensuring they can readily provide proof when needed, especially during encounters with the authorities.
Pet Trust UK is now working closely with the Met Police, vets and RSPCA to create UK-wide usage of the Digital DogTag.
Felix, who previously worked as a representative for Snowboarding for England, was inspired to set up the Pet Trust UK business following the puppy boom generated by the Covid pandemic.
She said: “During the lockdown, a Manchester breeder was threatened by two men in masks and machetes. Her dogs and puppies were stolen from her home after a meet and greet with an alleged prospective family. Sadly, she wasn’t the only one as reports of attacks rose. My family and I knew that no platform supported breeders and prospective dog owners to make connections safely.”
“Prospective owners are buying dogs online with no way of checking the breeder's credibility, health certificates and breeding practices. Some were spending their hard earned cash without knowing if there was even a real puppy waiting for them. Or they were falling in love with their new addition to their families and finding their puppy cruelly ripped from them six months later due to poor breeding and hidden health conditions. Due to the many problems in the pet industry, we decided to set up Pet Trust UK to make buying animals online safer.”
Felix believes that the current system for buying and selling dogs online is broken and leaves users vulnerable with the welfare of the public and animals clearly not a top priority for the government and local councils. She feels there is no process in place to protect either the owner, the public or the animals. Coupled with the shocking process in how suspected banned breeds are determined, both Felix and her son found a solution with their dog tag.
The Pet Trust UK Digital DogTag uses the latest technology to ensure its secure and tamperproof. Using their system, you can upload all of your dog's data, including:
- Owner details
- Portrait and Photos
- Identification
- Temperament
- Anxiety issues
- Feeding plan
- Medical information
- Vet details
The Pet Trust founders believe their Digital DogTag will go a long way to protecting beloved pets from being killed due to misidentification and misinformation that’s increasing daily due to recent media reports and the government’s mishandling of the ban of the XL bully.
“By ensuring that all dog owners have their documentation to hand when they take their dog out for a walk will give them peace of mind as the law states you must be in position of this documentation at all times,” added Felix, who is the proud owner of a five-year-old rescue Boxer called Sammi.
