August 10, 2020
By Thom Somes, President and Co-Founder of Pet Tech

Executive Overview

In an era where domestic animals are increasingly recognized as full-fledged family members, the standard of care expected for pets has undergone a monumental shift. Modern pet parents no longer view their dogs and cats merely as companion animals; they are children with fur, trusted confidants, and integral pillars of the household. Yet, despite this deep emotional integration, a critical vulnerability has long persisted in the pet care continuum: the knowledge gap in emergency medical intervention.

When a human experiences a medical crisis, society relies on a well-established chain of survival—bystanders trained in CPR, readily accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and rapid emergency response systems. For decades, however, when a household pet stopped breathing, choked on a toy, or suffered a sudden trauma, pet parents were largely left defenseless, dependent entirely on a race against the clock to reach a veterinary emergency room.

Enter Pet Tech, the pioneering international training center that fundamentally changed this paradigm. Founded by Thom Somes—affectionately known throughout the industry as "The Pet Safety Guy"—and his business partners, Pet Tech set out to answer a single, revolutionary question: What if everyday pet parents and pet care professionals were empowered with the life-saving skills traditionally reserved for veterinary professionals?

What began as a visionary concept dismissed by skeptics has blossomed into a global movement. Driven by the overarching corporate mission of "Improving the Quality of Pets’ Lives, One Pet Parent at a Time," Pet Tech has established a quantifiable, ambitious goal: Prevent 1 Million Pet ER Visits. Despite the unprecedented disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has already surged past 17% of this monumental milestone, having successfully certified over 170,000 students in pet CPR and first aid.

This comprehensive report examines the genesis of Pet Tech, the philosophy of its leadership, the rigorous metrics defining its success, and the broader implications of community-based animal emergency education in the twenty-first century.

Detailed Chronology: From a Single Question to an International Movement

The Spark of Innovation

Every transformative industry begins with a departure from conventional thinking. In the early days of pet safety education, the concept of teaching emergency medical procedures to non-veterinarians was practically nonexistent. Traditional veterinary medicine was strictly compartmentalized; diagnosis and treatment were viewed as the exclusive domain of licensed Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVMs) and registered veterinary technicians.

However, Thom Somes approached the industry not just as an outsider, but as an observer of a profound cultural shift. He recognized that while veterinary clinics provided exceptional acute care, they could not prevent the critical minutes of oxygen deprivation that occur before a pet arrives at the clinic. Somes saw an untapped opportunity to bridge the gap between home environments and clinical care.

"Pet Tech really did start with one question," Somes recalls. "It was one question that some people would not have taken seriously, or not even considered as a possibility. Instead, it was someone like me who saw an opportunity."

Building the Infrastructure

Translating a visionary question into an operational reality required the establishment of a standardized, accessible curriculum. Somes, alongside fellow animal welfare advocates, co-founded Pet Tech as the world’s first international training center dedicated specifically to pet first aid, CPR, and care training.

The early years were defined by meticulous curriculum development. Collaborating closely with emergency veterinarians, veterinary behaviorists, and animal care specialists, Pet Tech formulated hands-on training modules that could be taught safely and effectively to the general public. These programs were designed to demystify complex medical scenarios—such as canine and feline CPR, obstructed airway maneuvers, shock management, poisoning protocols, and heatstroke response—translating them into actionable, step-by-step procedures for laypersons.

Scaling Through the Decades

As the pet care industry experienced exponential growth through the 2000s and 2010s, Pet Tech expanded its footprint. The organization developed a robust network of authorized instructors, licensing dedicated professionals—including groomers, dog walkers, kennel operators, police K9 handlers, and passionate pet parents—to deliver standardized courses across North America and beyond.

By decentralizing education through a certified instructor network, Pet Tech transformed individual pet lovers into community safety advocates. This train-the-trainer model ensured that high standards of instruction were maintained while scaling the reach of the organization exponentially.

Supporting Context & Metrics: The 1 Million ER Visits Initiative

The Mathematics of Prevention

In the world of public health, preventative metrics are vital for measuring systemic impact. Pet Tech operates on a foundational, empirically supported hypothesis: Every trained student prevents at least one unnecessary pet ER visit.

While this correlation may initially sound ambitious, a closer examination of common domestic pet emergencies validates the premise. A significant percentage of veterinary emergency room visits stem from preventable or manageable incidents caught in their earliest stages:

• Choking: Swift action using modified Heimlich maneuvers can dislodge a foreign object before asphyxiation causes irreversible neurological damage.
• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV / Bloat): Recognizing early signs of restlessness and abdominal distension allows pet parents to seek veterinary care before catastrophic torsion occurs.
• Minor Trauma and Bleeding: Proper wound management and tourniquet application prevent exsanguination and severe infection during transit.
• Heat Exhaustion: Immediate, controlled cooling techniques halt the progression of multi-organ failure.

By empowering pet parents to manage these crises immediately—or to stabilize an animal safely during transport—trained individuals drastically alter clinical outcomes, frequently avoiding costly, traumatic, and entirely preventable emergency interventions.

The COVID-19 Milestone: 170,000 and Counting

The resilience of the Pet Tech community was severely tested in 2020 by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns, social distancing mandates, and economic uncertainty threatened educational institutions across the globe. Yet, demand for pet safety education actually intensified as millions of households adopted "pandemic pets" to cope with isolation.

As of August 2020, Pet Tech officially surpassed 170,000 certified students, marking a monumental milestone of 17% completion toward their ultimate corporate North Star: Preventing 1 Million Pet ER Visits.

This achievement during a global health crisis underscores a vital reality: the bond between humans and their companion animals is recession-proof and crisis-resistant. When families spend more time at home with their pets, the demand for reliable, life-saving home care knowledge grows in tandem.

Official Statements and Leadership Vision

Thom Somes: The Futurist and Pet Safety Pioneer

At the helm of this movement is Thom Somes, whose professional identity blends entrepreneurial drive with deep compassion for animals. As President and Co-Founder, Somes has earned renown not only as an administrator and educator, but as a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, futurist, and dedicated family man (including his proud role as a "grandpaw" to his oldest son’s cat).

Somes frequently emphasizes that the success of Pet Tech belongs entirely to the community of students and instructors who embrace the mission.

"We also believe that every student we train prevents 1 Pet ER Visit," Somes notes. "And we do have several other beliefs that help us in our mission of ‘Improving the Quality of Pets’ Lives, One Pet Parent at a Time.’ Hey, I say all this and more in the video, so enjoy and post your comments below."

This philosophy highlights a core tenet of Pet Tech’s corporate culture: empowerment through education. Somes rejects the notion that pet safety should be passive. By demystifying emergency medicine, Pet Tech shifts pet parents from a state of helpless panic to proactive agency.

Future Outlook: The Next Phase of Pet Safety

As Pet Tech looks beyond the achievements of 2020, the organization’s trajectory points toward an even broader integration of safety education into modern pet ownership culture.

1. Technological Integration and Digital Learning

While hands-on tactile training on specially designed canine and feline manikins remains the gold standard of Pet Tech certification, the organization is continuously expanding its digital infrastructure. Hybrid learning models, virtual seminars, and digitally augmented training aids are positioning Pet Tech to reach remote communities where traditional in-person classes may be scarce.

2. Corporate Partnerships and Workplace Wellness

A burgeoning trend in the modern workforce is pet-friendly office policies. As more corporations open their doors to employees’ dogs, the liability and safety considerations within corporate workspaces multiply. Pet Tech is uniquely positioned to partner with forward-thinking enterprises, certifying corporate staff in pet first aid to ensure safe, harmonious office environments.

3. Institutionalizing Pet First Aid Standards

The long-term advocacy goal for Pet Tech and allied animal welfare organizations is the widespread recognition of pet CPR and first aid certification as a mandatory baseline for all professional pet care providers—including groomers, boarding facility operators, and pet-sitting networks. By establishing universal industry standards, Pet Tech aims to elevate the baseline of professionalism across the entire multi-billion-dollar pet care economy.

Conclusion

The story of Pet Tech is ultimately a testament to the power of a single, audacious question. By challenging the status quo and refusing to accept that pet emergencies were entirely outside the control of everyday people, Thom Somes and his team sparked a cultural transformation.

With over 170,000 lives impacted, 17% of their million-goal achieved, and an army of trained pet parents walking the earth, Pet Tech has proven that education is the ultimate form of animal advocacy. As the organization marches toward its ultimate horizon, one thing remains certain: the lives of countless dogs and cats are longer, happier, and safer because someone dared to ask what if.

To support the mission of Pet Tech, learn more about upcoming certification courses, or to explore their specialized educational resources, visit the official Pet Tech platform. And remember—as our canine companions remind us daily through their unwavering loyalty, investing in their health and safety is the greatest return on love we can possibly provide.