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

Executive Overview

The bond between humans and their animal companions has undergone a profound transformation over the last several decades. Pets are no longer viewed merely as property or backyard guardians; they are firmly entrenched as cherished family members, integral to the emotional, psychological, and social fabric of modern households. Yet, alongside this cultural shift toward pet humanization lies a critical vulnerability: the lack of emergency medical preparedness among everyday pet parents.

When a family dog chokes on a toy, a cat ingests a toxic household plant, or an animal suffers a sudden cardiac event, seconds matter. Historically, pet owners confronted these terrifying scenarios with little more than panic, hoping to reach a veterinary clinic before it was too late. Recognizing this massive gap in animal welfare and emergency preparedness, Thom Somes—widely known as "The Pet Safety Guy"—set out to change the paradigm.

Founded on a single, visionary question, Pet Tech emerged as the world’s first international training center dedicated to teaching pet CPR, first aid, and advanced care to both everyday pet parents and professional animal care providers. In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Pet Tech’s mission has remained unwavering. With a bold, quantifiable objective to "Prevent 1 Million Pet ER Visits™," the organization has already trained more than 170,000 students worldwide, achieving over 17% of its monumental goal.

This comprehensive report explores the origins of Pet Tech, the meticulous methodology behind its life-saving curriculum, the broader cultural context of modern pet parenting, and the visionary roadmap guiding the organization toward a safer future for pets everywhere.

Detailed Chronology: From a Single Question to a Global Movement

Every transformative enterprise begins with an observation that others overlook. For Thom Somes, the genesis of Pet Tech did not arrive as a polished business plan; it materialized as a critical question regarding why everyday people were routinely expected to know basic human first aid—such as the Heimlich maneuver and CPR—while possessing zero formal training to handle emergencies involving their non-human family members.

The Spark of Opportunity

In a world where human medical safety courses are standard requirements for teachers, coaches, and corporate employees, emergency veterinary care was historically siloed entirely within the professional veterinary medical community. Pet owners were cast in the role of passive bystanders, entirely dependent on rapid transit to an emergency room during a crisis.

Somes recognized this disparity not as an insurmountable hurdle, but as a profound opportunity. While critics and traditionalists might have dismissed the feasibility of training laypeople in animal emergency medicine, Somes envisioned an empowered community of pet parents equipped with the tangible skills needed to stabilize an animal before veterinary intervention became necessary.

Establishing the Standard

In its early days, Pet Tech pioneered uncharted territory. There were no established blueprints for teaching feline and canine CPR to the general public. Somes and his co-founders had to develop standardized, scientifically sound, and accessible training protocols that could bridge the gap between complex veterinary medicine and everyday household application.

This led to the creation of the world’s first international training center for pet first aid and CPR. By designing specialized canine and feline training manikins, Pet Tech transformed abstract theoretical knowledge into hands-on muscle memory. Students could practice rescue breathing, chest compressions, muzzling techniques, and bandaging without placing real animals at risk.

Scaling Through Crisis: The COVID-19 Era

As the world shifted dramatically in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the human-animal bond intensified. With millions of people confined to their homes, pet adoption rates skyrocketed, and owners spent unprecedented amounts of time with their companion animals. Simultaneously, veterinary clinics faced severe operational strains, curbed capacities, and emergency room congestion.

During this crucible, Pet Tech’s mission became more relevant than ever. Reaching the milestone of 170,000 trained students amidst a global pandemic underscored the resilience of the organization and the deep-seated hunger among pet parents for reliable, actionable safety education.

Supporting Context & Metrics: The Mathematics of Prevention

To fully appreciate the scope of Pet Tech’s impact, one must examine the intersection of pet ownership demographics, veterinary emergency statistics, and the foundational philosophy driving the organization’s key performance indicators.

The Human-Animal Bond in the 21st Century

According to industry data from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), over 70% of U.S. households own at least one pet. Spending on pets has experienced uninterrupted year-over-year growth, crossing the multi-billion-dollar threshold as owners increasingly invest in premium nutrition, specialized healthcare, and lifestyle enhancements for their animals.

However, this increased investment in lifestyle often contrasts sharply with emergency preparedness. Studies indicate that a significant percentage of pet-related medical emergencies occur outside of regular veterinary business hours, frequently resulting in frantic midnight car rides, exorbitant emergency room fees, and, tragically, avoidable fatalities due to delayed intervention.

The "1 Million Pet ER Visits" Framework

Pet Tech operates under a bold, audacious goal: Prevent 1 Million Pet ER Visits™.

While skeptics might view such a target as mere marketing hyperbole, Somes and the Pet Tech leadership team ground this metric in a direct, cause-and-effect philosophy: Every trained student successfully prevents, on average, at least one unnecessary Pet ER visit.

• Proactive Interventions: When a pet owner knows how to safely dislodge an obstruction from an animal’s airway using modified Heimlich maneuvers rather than panicking, an emergency room visit is averted.
• Wound Management: Knowing how to properly apply pressure dressings to bleeding wounds at home prevents panic-induced rushes to the clinic for minor injuries that can be managed safely.
• Poison Identification & Response: Immediate, informed action during suspected ingestions (such as knowing when not to induce vomiting) saves animals from secondary systemic trauma.

Having surpassed 170,000 trained students—achieving over 17% of their overarching target—Pet Tech has empirically demonstrated that lay education scales effectively. Each certified pet parent acts as a localized node of safety, spreading awareness and capability throughout their respective communities.

Official Statements & Visionary Leadership

At the heart of Pet Tech’s cultural footprint is its leadership, characterized by a blend of pragmatic urgency and deep-seated compassion. Thom Somes, known throughout the industry as "The Pet Safety Guy," serves as the public face and philosophical anchor of the movement.

"Pet Tech really did start with one question. It was one question that some people would not have taken seriously, or not even consider it as a possibility; instead, it was someone like me who saw an OPPORTUNITY!" — Thom Somes, President and Co-Founder

Somes approaches animal welfare not just through the lens of medical intervention, but through a holistic commitment encapsulated in the organization’s guiding mission statement:

"Improving the quality of pets’ lives, one pet parent at a time."

This philosophy rejects the notion that pet care begins and ends at the veterinarian’s office. Instead, it places agency directly into the hands of the consumer. As a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and self-described "futurist," Somes anticipates a world where pet first-aid certification is as ubiquitous as standard human CPR certification in schools, workplaces, and community centers.

Furthermore, Somes’ personal connection to the animal kingdom—including his role as a proud pet parent and "grandpaw" to his oldest son’s cat—infuses the corporate mission with authentic, everyday relatability.

Future Outlook: The Next Horizon in Pet Safety

As Pet Tech looks toward the future, the organization is uniquely positioned at the forefront of the pet care revolution. Reaching the 170,000-student milestone during a period of global disruption serves not as a finish line, but as a launching pad for the next phase of expansion.

Expanding Digital and Hybrid Learning Models

To accelerate the journey toward the remaining 830,000 prevented ER visits, Pet Tech continues to innovate its delivery models. By blending traditional, rigorous hands-on training with advanced digital education modules, the organization is breaking down geographic barriers. Pet parents in remote rural areas, busy urban centers, and international markets can access critical foundational knowledge, supplemented by local certified instructor-led practical sessions.

Collaborations Within the Veterinary Community

A cornerstone of Pet Tech’s future strategy involves deepening partnerships with licensed veterinarians and veterinary clinics. Historically, some medical professionals viewed lay-first-aid courses with skepticism, fearing it might encourage dangerous home diagnoses. However, progressive veterinary hospitals increasingly recognize that educated pet parents make better partners in animal healthcare. An owner who can stabilize an animal and accurately report vital signs to a triage nurse significantly improves clinical outcomes upon arrival.

Cultivating a Culture of Wellness

Beyond emergency response, Pet Tech’s evolution points toward comprehensive preventative care. Future curricula increasingly emphasize senior pet care, preventive wellness checks, environmental hazard identification, and holistic health management. By empowering pet parents with the tools to recognize subtle signs of distress or illness before they manifest into acute emergencies, Pet Tech is redefining what it means to be a responsible animal guardian in the 21st century.

Conclusion

The story of Pet Tech is a testament to the power of asking the right question at the right time. What began as a bold observation about a neglected niche has blossomed into an international movement that has saved countless animal lives and spared families unimaginable grief.

As Thom Somes and his network of dedicated instructors continue their march toward preventing 1 Million Pet ER Visits™, the message to pet parents worldwide remains clear: love is not just a feeling; it is an action. By investing in education, preparation, and proactive care, humanity can honor the unconditional devotion of our four-legged family members, ensuring they live longer, happier, and safer lives by our sides.

(Note: For those interested in supporting the canine members of the Pet Tech family, Thom Somes frequently highlights the official, USA-sourced and manufactured liver treats favored by the company’s resident dogs—a small reminder of the joy and playfulness that underpins this life-saving mission.)