BARK's Cool New ‘Toy Safety’ Protocols Could Change the Pet World Forever
As pet parents, we always want our babies to have everything they need and more - food, treats, comfy places to rest and, most importantly, toys. More important than just having toys, though, is having toys that are safe to play with and built to last! Toys are meant to be fun. What fun is worrying about the toy you purchased making your pup sick?
Recently, BARK announced their newest steps in their commitment to creating safe, durable toys for dogs from all walks of life. They've developed a state-of-the-art toy-testing lab and are taking the lead on the first set of international dog toy safety standards - how cool is that? You have to look at this lab:
Listen, if anyone at BARK happens to be hiring dogs to work in this lab, I've got three very worthy candidates...
Related: Toys Containing BPA May Cause Obesity in Dogs, New Research Finds
BARK has done a ton of things for the dog toy industry, and they're always working on making the world more comfortable for dogs as a whole. Recently, they even launched BARK Air, a specifically dog-friendly airline that allows your pup to fly in luxury instead of cooped up or in cargo!
Before there was BARK Air or anything else, there was BarkBox, a dog subscription box that would send you toys and treats every month, always following some kind of theme. They've gone viral several times for their funky themes that are always on-trend, and their toys have expanded to be carried in a lot of different stores all over the US.
BARK has always prided themselves on having good-quality dog toys that can withstand the test of chewers everywhere. However, now, they're taking it up a notch. They've finally finished developing their toy-testing lab, which is home to several machines that simulate all kinds of chewing. From a soft-jawed small breed to the strongest jaws a dog has to offer, BARK wants to test them all. Each toy they create goes through the lab and undergoes as many as 30 days of chew testing before being given the green light!
BARK's New Toy Safety Standards
Maybe the lab is the coolest thing I've seen all week, but there's more. Along with their lab, they're also developing the world's first international dog toy safety standard protocols. According to BARK's Director of Safety and Quality Standards, Brian Gochal, there are no standards for dog products in general.
Unsafe, poor quality dog toys slip through the cracks all the time, and BARK wants to stop it - across the entire industry, not just for their brand. Many dog toys have been found to contain things like:
BPAs
Phthalates
Lead
Latex
Dyes
All of these things, if consumed in excess or over a prolonged period of time, can be harmful for your pup. The problem is only exacerbated by the fact that a lot of "cheaper," poorer-quality toys tend to fall apart after only a few uses and break up into easily swallowable pieces!
Right now, BARK is focusing specifically on dog toys, because it's one of the things they do best. Down the line, we may even start to see some other products being put to the test with BARK's safety standards, like crates, harnesses, beds, and even products for other animals, not just dogs!
