August 10, 2020
By Thom Somes, President and Co-Founder of Pet Tech
Executive Overview
In the landscape of modern animal companionship, our pets are no longer viewed merely as property or working animals; they are integral members of our families. We invest in premium nutrition, specialized behavioral training, and holistic veterinary care to ensure they live long, vibrant lives. Yet, despite these extensive investments, a critical vulnerability historically remained unaddressed: what happens in the critical minutes between a sudden medical emergency—such as choking, cardiac arrest, poisoning, or severe trauma—and the arrival at a veterinary hospital?
For decades, human first aid and CPR have been standard requirements in workplaces, schools, and public spaces. However, emergency care training tailored specifically for domestic animals was virtually nonexistent. This vital gap in public safety sparked the creation of Pet Tech, the world’s first international training center dedicated to pet CPR and first aid.
Founded by Thom Somes—widely known as "The Pet Safety Guy"—Pet Tech began not as a sprawling corporate entity, but as a singular, visionary question: What if everyday pet parents and pet care professionals were empowered with the lifesaving skills needed to handle animal medical emergencies?
Today, that single question has evolved into a global movement. Driven by the overarching mission of "Improving the Quality of Pets’ Lives, One Pet Parent at a Time," Pet Tech has established a monumental and audaciously transparent corporate goal: to prevent 1 million pet emergency room (ER) visits. As of the unprecedented landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the organization has triumphantly surpassed 17% of this objective, having trained over 170,000 students worldwide in pet CPR and emergency first aid.
This comprehensive report explores the origins of Pet Tech, the foundational philosophy driving its mission, the tangible metrics measuring its success, and the future outlook of pet safety education in an increasingly pet-centric world.
Detailed Chronology: From a Single Question to a Global Movement
Every transformative enterprise begins with a pivotal moment of realization. For Pet Tech, that moment was born out of observation, ingenuity, and an unwavering refusal to accept the status quo of pet vulnerability.
The Genesis of an Idea
Long before Pet Tech became an internationally recognized brand, the landscape of animal emergency care was fragmented. Veterinary medicine was—and remains—exceptional at treating trauma and illness inside the clinical setting. However, the bridge between the occurrence of an emergency at home and arrival at the clinic was completely dark.
Many people confronted with a choking pet, a drowning animal, or an unexpected seizure would panic, often worsening the situation through improper handling. While some might have dismissed these incidents as tragic, unpreventable accidents, Somes and his early collaborators saw an opportunity. They recognized that education was the missing link.
Pioneering Pet CPR
The earliest days of Pet Tech required breaking entirely new ground. There were no established curricula for canine and feline CPR that translated seamlessly to laypeople. Techniques had to be researched, adapted from human emergency protocols, tested rigorously in clinical cooperation with veterinarians, and packaged into accessible, hands-on training modules.
The core philosophy established during this foundational period was elegantly simple yet profound: Every student trained in pet CPR and first aid prevents at least one unnecessary pet ER visit. By teaching pet parents how to recognize early signs of distress, administer preventative care, and apply immediate stabilization techniques, Pet Tech effectively created a human-animal safety net.
Scaling the Mission Through the Decades
As word spread, the demand for certified pet first aid instructors grew exponentially. Pet Tech transitioned from local workshops to a robust international network. Dog walkers, groomers, kennel operators, police K9 handlers, and everyday pet parents flocked to the certification courses.
The journey, however, was not without hurdles. Scaling an educational enterprise that relies heavily on tactile, hands-on learning—such as practicing rescue breaths and chest compressions on specialized animal manikins—presented logistical challenges. Yet, the organization persevered, adapting its delivery methods while maintaining rigorous educational standards. By the time the global health landscape shifted dramatically with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Pet Tech had cemented its status as the gold standard in animal emergency education, crossing the milestone of 170,000 certified graduates.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Mathematics of Saving Lives
To truly understand the impact of Pet Tech, one must examine the hard data and the socio-economic shifts surrounding pet ownership in the 21st century.
The "1 Million Pet ER Visits" Initiative
Setting a goal to prevent one million emergency room visits is undeniably ambitious. In the world of corporate and non-profit goal-setting, such figures are often dismissed as marketing hyperbole. However, Pet Tech’s methodology is rooted in a direct 1-to-1 correlation philosophy: one trained student equals one prevented emergency room visit.
When a pet parent learns how to properly muzzle a frightened, injured animal, they prevent a secondary bite injury. When they master the Heimlich maneuver for dogs and cats, a choking incident is resolved in the living room rather than requiring a high-cost, high-stress midnight dash to the emergency clinic. When they understand how to identify the early symptoms of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV or "bloat"), life-saving veterinary intervention can be sought before necrosis sets in.
By 2020, surpassing the 170,000-student threshold meant that Pet Tech had successfully steered an estimated 170,000 potential trauma cases away from overburdened veterinary ERs. This not only translates to reduced veterinary bills for pet parents—often saving families thousands of dollars in emergency fees—but more importantly, it results in countless spared animal lives and immeasurable psychological relief for human companions.
The Modern Pet Economy and Vulnerability
The timing of Pet Tech’s growth aligns directly with the "humanization" of pets. According to industry statistics from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet expenditures have risen steadily year-over-year, with billions of dollars spent annually on pet care in the United States alone.
Yet, paradoxically, as we spend more on our pets, our lifestyles have also grown more complex. Modern households feature busy schedules, complex urban hazards, and a myriad of new environmental toxins (ranging from xylitol-sweetened foods to modern household cleaners and advanced landscaping chemicals). The intersection of increased pet devotion and modern household hazards makes emergency preparedness more critical than ever before. Pet Tech filled this exact societal vulnerability, evolving from a niche service into an essential component of responsible pet parenting.
Official Statements and Leadership Vision
At the heart of Pet Tech’s enduring culture is its leadership. Thom Somes—affectionately and professionally known as "The Pet Safety Guy"—brings a unique blend of corporate vision, educational passion, and genuine warmth to the pet safety sector.
"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!"
— Thom Somes, President and Co-Founder of Pet Tech
Somes emphasizes that the organization’s success is a testament to the collective hunger for knowledge among modern pet owners. The mission statement—"Improving the Quality of Pets’ Lives, One Pet Parent at a Time"—serves as a daily compass for instructors and staff alike.
In addition to his role as an executive and educator, Somes wears many hats: best-selling author, futurist, sought-after public speaker, dedicated pet parent, and proud "grandpaw" to his oldest son’s cat. This multifaceted background informs his holistic view of pet wellness. He recognizes that safety is not merely about reacting to crises; it is about fostering a lifestyle of proactive health, environmental awareness, and deep emotional bonding between humans and animals.
Future Outlook: The Next Horizon of Pet Safety
As we look beyond the milestones achieved by 2020, the trajectory of Pet Tech points toward continuous expansion, technological integration, and deeper community engagement.
Expanding the Educational Footprint
The primary objective remains clear: marching steadily toward the ultimate goal of preventing 1 million pet ER visits. To achieve this, Pet Tech is continuously refining its instructor network, expanding international partnerships, and exploring blended learning models that combine digital theoretical instruction with rigorous, hands-on practical evaluations.
Furthermore, the curriculum is constantly updated to reflect the latest advancements in veterinary medicine and animal behavior science. As new hazards emerge in domestic environments—ranging from technological gadgets to new dietary trends—Pet Tech ensures its training remains on the cutting edge of animal safety.
Cultivating a Culture of Preparedness
Beyond the numbers, the ultimate vision of Pet Tech is cultural transformation. The organization envisions a world where knowing basic pet CPR and first aid is as commonplace and expected as knowing human CPR. By embedding safety education into veterinary clinics, pet grooming academies, municipal animal shelters, and community centers, Pet Tech is creating a resilient ecosystem of knowledgeable pet advocates.
In conclusion, the Pet Tech story is a powerful reminder that profound systemic change often starts with a simple, daring question. By empowering everyday people with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to act in moments of crisis, Thom Somes and the global Pet Tech community have redefined what it means to truly care for our four-legged family members—ensuring healthier, happier, and longer lives for pets around the world.
Note from the Author: Ensuring our pets’ health extends from emergency preparedness down to their daily nutrition and rewards. For pet parents looking for wholesome, high-quality nutrition to support their companions, choosing single-ingredient, locally sourced treats—such as premium-grade US-made liver treats—remains a fantastic way to reward good behavior while supporting your pets’ vitality.
