HOWND, the multi-award winning pet care brand, has just launched a reward-based Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for its new innovative HERO Bowl and aims to raise £38k to bring the bowl to market.

It was invented to provide antimicrobial protection for dog food and water bowls and is set to be the most hygienic bowl solution on the market.

In an increasingly hygiene conscious world, the patent-pending HERO Bowl is the ideal food and water bowl for pet owners that care as much about their pets' hygiene as their own. The innovative HERO Bowl has built-in antimicrobial technology provided by BioCote®, a world leader in antimicrobial technology.

The BioCote technology is present throughout the HERO Bowl, providing premium antimicrobial protection even if scratched or chewed, protection that will last for the expected lifetime of the bowl as it does not wash off or wear away.With recommended retail prices starting from approximately £18/$22 this innovative bowl is set to disrupt the pet accessory market.

Studies have shown that 67% of dog bowls coming out of the dishwasher still have Salmonella present on their surfaces. A superior alternative to a stainless steel product, the HERO Bowl has 24 hour protection from a technology that works constantly to reduce microbes by up to 99.99% on the protected surface. Although all pet bowls should be cleaned regularly, including the HERO Bowl, the effects of cleaning are short lived and once they have worn off an unprotected bowl is subject to recontamination, leaving bacteria to thrive unchecked until the next clean.

Unlike on an unprotected bowl, the risk of microbial cross contamination from the HERO Bowl is actively reduced as the BioCote technology continues to perform against the colonisation of bacteria, perfectly complementing existing hygiene practices. BioCote has been proven to reduce up to 86% of bacteria in just 15 minutes, 99.5% in two hours and has even been proven to inactivate the H1N1 virus.

With modern day dog owners taking more interest in the health and hygiene of their pets than ever before, the HERO bowl is also ideal for multiple pet households as well as vet surgeries, grooming salons, rescue centres and kennels where bowls are often shared and hygiene is of the utmost importance.

With a contemporary ergonomic design, the HERO Bowl is made from recyclable polypropylene and will come in a range of HOWND matt brand colours with a gloss logo to suit any home decor; with a non-slip base; twin side cut outs for easy handling; a high curve interior with angular corners for easier feeding and shifting of food; and is dishwasher safe. Available in two sizes: 18cm and 23 cm.

HOWND, a rising star in the pet sector, has been setting tails a wagging in the industry since its launch in 2015. HOWND has won multiple accolades for its ground-breaking vegan and cruelty-free pet care products and its high profile Bring Your Dog To Work annual charity fundraising day. It won the coveted Petquip Product of the Year in September 2017 (accessories). All HOWND pet care products are certified Cruelty Free International. They have been awarded the prestigious Leaping Bunny Award, and are endorsed by The Ethical Company Organisation and the Nature Watch Foundation.

Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND explains: "We know from the success of our HOWND pet care range that animal lovers are prepared to go to great lengths for their pets to ensure they enjoy a happy and healthy life.

"We live in a time where people are using antibacterial hand gels and cleaning sprays as well as other hygiene solutions, and we saw a gap in the market for an antimicrobial pet bowl solution.

"Animal health and welfare is at the heart of everything we do and launching the HERO Bowl is the logical next step for us as a company whose whole ethos is about protecting and caring for our precious furry friends."

Jo Amit and Mark Hirschel, the founders of HOWND, searched long and hard to find the right material for the bowl, to ensure that any materials they used met with the company's strict ethical standards. They eventually found and partnered with BioCote® who are pioneers in antimicrobial technology.

BioCote's Head of Partner Development, Jennifer Collier says: "BioCote is thrilled to be partnering with HOWND to develop a unique range of antimicrobial pet bowls. This emerging brand's immense passion for producing ethical, quality pet products is truly inspiring, and we look forward to helping them deliver yet another fantastic product to the market."

"As a forward-thinking company, it's important for us to continually evolve and drive new innovative product development. The HERO Bowl is a perfect example of this, and we are very excited to be launching this crowdfunding campaign and creating a product which offers pet owners important health related benefits and ergonomically designed functionality," says Mark Hirschel.

You can back HOWND's HERO Bowl on Indiegogo, click here