Published: August 10, 2020
Author: Thom Somes, President and Co-Founder of Pet Tech (Adapted from archival company reports and stakeholder briefings)

Executive Overview

For decades, the standard of care for domestic animals during medical crises relied almost entirely on rapid transit to a veterinary clinic. While emergency veterinary medicine has advanced by leaps and bounds, the critical window between the onset of a life-threatening incident—such as choking, cardiac arrest, poisoning, or severe trauma—and arrival at a clinical facility has historically been a perilous gray area. Pet owners were largely unequipped with the physiological knowledge and hands-on emergency skills routinely taught for human first aid.

Enter Pet Tech, the world’s first international training center dedicated specifically to pet CPR, first aid, and emergency care. Founded on a singular, visionary question about the untapped potential of preventative animal safety education, the organization has spent decades redefining what it means to be a responsible pet parent and pet care professional.

At the heart of the company’s ongoing mission is a remarkably ambitious objective: "Prevent 1 Million Pet ER Visits." While initially viewed by industry skeptics as an impossible, overly idealistic milestone, the organization announced a major operational milestone. Despite the unprecedented disruptions of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Pet Tech successfully surpassed 17% of that ultimate goal, having trained over 170,000 students worldwide in specialized pet CPR and emergency first aid.

This report provides a comprehensive examination of the Pet Tech story, tracing its origins, analyzing the core metrics driving its preventative model, exploring official statements from its leadership, and projecting the future outlook of animal safety education in a post-pandemic world.

Detailed Chronology: From a Single Question to a Global Movement

Every transformative educational movement begins with a shift in perspective. In the early days of the pet care industry, pets were increasingly viewed not merely as property or working animals, but as fully fledged members of the nuclear family. Yet, this cultural elevation was not matched by practical safety infrastructure. When a dog stopped breathing or a cat ingested a toxic household substance, owners faced a catastrophic vacuum of actionable knowledge.

The Inception of Pet Tech

The enterprise that would become Pet Tech was born not out of a clinical boardroom, but out of a moment of recognition. Thom Somes—affectionately known throughout the industry as "The Pet Safety Guy"—looked at the landscape of animal care and saw an undeniable opportunity. Where others saw isolated, tragic accidents destined to be handled exclusively by emergency veterinarians, Somes saw an educational void.

The core hypothesis was deceptively simple: If humans can be trained to stabilize other humans before professional medical help arrives, why can’t pet parents and pet care professionals be trained to do the exact same thing for animals?

Breaking New Ground in International Training

Establishing the world’s first international training center dedicated to pet safety was fraught with operational hurdles. In the early years, standardizing emergency medical protocols for multiple species—primarily dogs and cats—required extensive collaboration with veterinary professionals, toxicologists, and emergency clinicians.

Unlike human first aid, which benefits from standardized, universally accepted curriculum boards like the American Heart Association, pet first aid existed in a regulatory and educational wild west. Somes and his co-founders had to construct a rigorous, reproducible, and easily digestible curriculum that could be taught uniformly across different states and countries.

The Pandemic Crucible: Navigating 2020

When the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed global economies and educational institutions in early 2020, organizations dependent on in-person, hands-on training faced an existential threat. For Pet Tech, whose courses traditionally relied heavily on tactile practice with specialized canine and feline manikins, social distancing mandates could have brought momentum to a grinding halt.

Instead, the organization adapted. By reinforcing its foundational belief system—that every trained individual equates to one prevented emergency room visit—Pet Tech leveraged its existing network of instructors to sustain momentum. Crossing the 170,000-student threshold during a year of global crisis underscored the deep, enduring resilience of the pet safety community and the absolute necessity of emergency preparedness education.

Supporting Context & Metrics: The Economics of Prevention

To fully understand the impact of Pet Tech’s operations, one must analyze the intersection of veterinary economics, animal welfare metrics, and behavioral psychology. The organization’s guiding philosophy operates on a direct cause-and-effect correlation: Every student trained in pet CPR and first aid prevents one unnecessary Pet ER visit.

Quantifying the Impact: The 1 Million ER Visit Goal

The "Prevent 1 Million Pet ER Visits" initiative is more than a catchy marketing slogan; it is a measurable public health metric. Veterinary emergency care is notoriously expensive, emotionally taxing, and, in many cases, reactive rather than proactive. By equipping pet parents with the skills to identify early warning signs of distress, administer Heimlich maneuvers for choking, perform rescue breathing, and properly manage traumatic wounds, Pet Tech directly alters the downstream utilization of emergency veterinary services.

• Total Milestone Target: 1,000,000 prevented ER visits.
• Current Achievement Level: Over 170,000 students trained.
• Progress Percentage: 17%+ completed as of the 2020 reporting period.
• Core Hypothesis: 1 Student Trained = 1 ER Visit Prevented.

The Broader Mission: Improving the Quality of Pets’ Lives

Beyond the raw statistics of emergency interventions, Pet Tech’s broader corporate ethos is encapsulated in the creed: "Improving the Quality of Pets’ Lives, One Pet Parent at a Time."

This philosophy recognizes that true pet wellness extends far beyond premium nutrition and routine vaccinations. It encompasses environmental safety, preventative health monitoring, disaster preparedness, and the psychological peace of mind experienced by a pet parent who knows how to respond when disaster strikes. When caregivers are confident in their emergency response capabilities, the human-animal bond deepens, reducing instances of owner panic and ensuring better, calmer outcomes for the animal in distress.

Official Statements and Leadership Perspective

At the helm of this international movement is Thom Somes, President and Co-Founder of Pet Tech. Known for his engaging presentation style, educational advocacy, and deep-seated passion for animal welfare, Somes has spent decades traveling the globe as a speaker, bestselling author, and corporate futurist.

Reflecting on the journey of the organization, Somes noted the improbability of its early days compared to its current global footprint:

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

Somes frequently emphasizes that the success of the organization belongs as much to the dedicated community of instructors and students as it does to the founders. Regarding the monumental goal of preventing one million emergency room visits, he maintains an attitude of determined optimism:

"One of our Pet Tech goals is to ‘Prevent 1 Million Pet ER Visits,’ which is a lofty goal, BUT we are over 17% of the way as of COVID. That is, we have trained over 170,000 students in Pet CPR and First Aid. That impresses me! We also believe that every student we train prevents 1 Pet ER Visit. And we do believe in several other beliefs that help us in our mission of ‘Improving the Quality of Pets’ Lives, One Pet Parent at a Time.’"

In addition to his administrative and corporate leadership roles, Somes embodies the lifestyle of the modern pet parent. Often introducing himself not only as an executive and author, but proudly as a "grandpaw to his oldest son’s cat," Somes bridges the gap between high-level institutional strategy and the everyday, grassroots reality of living alongside companion animals.

Future Outlook: The Next Phase of Animal Safety Education

As the pet care industry continues to expand—fueled by rising pet ownership rates, increased spending on animal health, and the humanization of pets—the demand for standardized emergency education is projected to accelerate exponentially.

Technological Integration and Hybrid Learning

Looking beyond the milestones achieved during the 2020 landscape, the future of pet safety education lies in a robust hybrid model. While hands-on tactile training with specialized manikins remains irreplaceable for mastering the physical mechanics of CPR and choking relief, digital platforms, virtual reality simulations, and remote micro-credentialing are poised to expand access to remote and underserved geographic regions.

Professionalization of the Pet Care Industry

Another critical frontier for Pet Tech and allied organizations is the mandatory professionalization of pet care workers. While dog walkers, groomers, kennel technicians, and pet-sitters are entrusted with millions of animals daily, regulatory requirements for emergency certifications vary wildly across jurisdictions. Advocacy efforts driven by pioneers like Somes are steadily pushing toward a future where holding a valid Pet CPR and First Aid certification becomes a non-negotiable baseline standard for anyone operating a commercial pet care business.

Sustaining the March Toward One Million

The path from 170,000 trained students to the ultimate milestone of 1 million requires continued scaling, strategic partnerships with veterinary associations, and a steadfast commitment to public education. As more pet parents recognize that emergencies do not schedule themselves around veterinary office hours, the cultural shift toward proactive preparedness will only deepen.

Ultimately, the story of Pet Tech is a testament to the power of asking a single, unconventional question and having the tenacity to build an entire industry around the answer. By empowering everyday people with life-saving knowledge, Pet Tech has forever altered the landscape of animal care—ensuring that our four-legged family members live longer, safer, and happier lives.