Vibram’s Vet Project

With heart and a lot of rubber sole, Quabaug Corporation, the North Brookfield, MA maker of Vibram footwear soling products and pet performance gear, is teaming with Fetchdog.com on a limited-edition dog toy to help fund Puppies Behind Bars’ “DogTags: Service Dogs for Those Who’ve Served Us” program. The DogTags Chewy Shoe toy features a tough cord for pulling and throwing and is made from the same molds and Vibram rubber used to make military boots. For every red, white and blue toy purchased, $2 will be contributed to the not-for-profit training program. “DogTags is about returning the help to those who’ve helped us,” says Kevin Donahue, U.S. chairman and CEO of Quabaug Corp. 
Launched in 2006, DogTags donates fully trained service dogs—raised and trained by prison inmates—to wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Golden and Labrador Retrievers assist physically disabled veterans with daily tasks, like grocery shopping, are trained to remind their companions to take their medications and provide comfort. As the largest supplier of outsoles to the U.S. military, Donahue says it was a natural instinct to want to help the organization. Vibram’s goal for the toy is to raise at least $100,000 for the program. “With that money, we can train 20 dogs this year to help 20 veterans,” he notes. Donahue believes an upcoming segment on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” will boost sales. “We’re prepared for a lot of phone calls,” he says. DogTag Chewy Shoe toys are available now on FetchDog.com.