| Skamper-Ramp |
| The Great Water Escape Ramp for Pets and Other Critters! Works great in your pool and boat. |
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Dog Safety & Pools
By Carrie Agnew
Every pet owner with a swimming pool knows that whether they want their animal in the water or not, their pet will probably end
up in the pool at some point, often involuntarily! Even if under constant supervision, the unanticipated takes place—animals
are chased, doors are left open; accidents can and do happen!
With over 71% households in the United States owning at least one pet (and over half of those owning a pool and/or spa), the
issue of water safety, especially around pools, is an important one that must be acknowledged and addressed.
In fact, the pet safety category is one of the fastest growing in the pet industry—and this was before the recent pet food scare.
Products ranging from ID implants to safety gates to flotation vests abound.
Over the past several years a number of articles have been published in newspapers and magazines across the country
specifically on the subject of pet water safety. Specials/segments have been devoted to it on national television programs such
as Animal Planet, Good Morning America and The Early Show, to name just a few. This is largely due to the fact that the odds
are of a pet drowning are 1 out of every 1,028 every year in the United States alone. This equates to as many as 170,000
dogs, cats and small animals! And this figure doesn’t account for the tens of thousands of “critters” that suffer the same fate.
While many pets love the water, others don’t. Most pet owners simply assume that all dogs “know” how to swim, but many do
not and the first time they find themselves in a pool can be traumatic! All pool owners with a dog should introduce their animal
to the water - gradually, in a non-threatening, supervised form. That way, even if the owner doesn’t want their dog swimming in
the pool, at least if it falls or is chased in, their pet won’t immediately panic.
Regardless of whether an animal has jumped or been chased in the water, how they get out can be a major issue. Many pet
owners believe they can train their dog(s) to use the steps. But even this technique isn’t fool-proof, primarily because the dog
can’t see the steps—they are under the water! In reality, the pet has a landmark—such as a plant, fence or tree—but at night
or if in distress- that “learning” is quickly replaced by panic. Then there are all those frogs, squirrels, snakes and possums that
manage to turn up in skimmer baskets after having fallen or been chased in the pool.
The drowning problem can easily be addressed, but requires recognition of the pet’s owner to the dangers posed by pools and
awareness of the available solutions.
Tens of millions of dollars are spent on pets each year. Why? Because these animals are thought of as/considered family
members. In fact, many pet owners will not hesitate to take their animal to the vet at the slightest sign of illness or to purchase
gifts and gadgets to entertain and/or dress them! Many hotels across the country have recognized this trend and register
themselves as “Pet-Friendly.”
A large number of pets, particularly dogs, enjoy swimming but even the youngest, strongest swimmers can panic if they can’t
find their way out, get fatigued or distressed. They will instinctively head for the closest edge of the pool and start clawing their
way around the edge, looking for the exit they remember is there, somewhere. For owners of vinyl-lined pools this is an
extremely expensive problem, as the entire liner may have to be replaced or at least repaired if it is ripped or torn.
Barking for help can cause throat damage to a dog. Because the animal will often bark for help, it swallows a considerable
amount of water in the process and the chemicals in the pool can damage its esophagus. Additionally, chlorine and algaecides
can not only make a dog sick, but also cause coat and skin problems.
When it comes to keeping a pet safe, money isn’t the issue. Effectiveness is. Peace-of-mind is worth more than expense. To
many people, the death of a pet is just as difficult to cope with as a human family member. With the accompanying sense of
acute loss and depression just as real as if it had been a “human” family member.
For pool and spa retailers it is good business sense to offer pet/animal safety products. The numbers—8.35 million pools, with
over 400,000 new pools built every year and over 63% of households having pets—supports this. Customers turn to their pool
service company for help when trying to address their concern for their animals.
For some pet owners, this concern is not only for the safety of their animal, as mentioned earlier, but also for themselves and
their children who have to deal with the “critters” that drown and are found floating in the pool in the morning. This often
requires that the pool water be re-treated —another expensive process.
The solution? Layers of protection.
Many municipalities now require that pools be fenced in. But they aren’t fool-proof. The door can be left open or ajar. Animals
will dig under or slither through them.
Pool covers, especially soft ones, can be as dangerous as an open pool. Animals get caught and can slide underneath and
then are unable to get out, resulting in either suffocation or drowning.
Flotation vests are a viable option; however, like water alarms (water sensitive devices that attach to the animal’s collar) they
require that the pet owner be home to help the animal actually get out of the pool.
Another safety alternative is a water-escape device such as Skamper-Ramp®, which was designed to prevent pets and animals
from drowning by allowing them to exit the water on their own. Fabricated from heavy duty box-corrugated plastic, it comes in
two sizes: Skamper-Ramp for animals under 45 lbs. and Skamper-Ramp Big Dog™ for any pet, but specifically for those over
45 lbs. with longer torsos and is also required if used for most docks and boats. Because the ramp is polypropylene, it is UV-
and chemical-resistant, lightweight (1.5 lbs and: 2.75 lbs. respectively), robust and extremely durable. It is also safe for vinyl
lined pools!
The product works on the premise that it floats and all living things see white. Animals see the ramp breaking the water’s
surface and leading out of the pool or back onto the boat or dock. Whether used pool-side or attached to the stern of a boat or
to a dock, Skamper-Ramp provides pets and animals with a stress-free means of getting out of the water all by themselves and
their owner with peace-of-mind, knowing their pet will be able to take care of/save itself if it becomes panicked.
Skamper-Ramp is sold worldwide and has twice been selected as one of the “Top 50 Products” in a leading U.S. pool trade
publication’s “Readers Choice” awards (2004; 2006). The product has been featured as one of the 'hot new pet products’ on
Good Morning America, The Early Show, Animal Planet, an HGTV “Outdoor Living Expo” special, and Christmas in July. The
American Pet Association also recently awarded Skamper-Ramp with its product “Seal of Approval” as a device that enhances
the well-being of pets and promotes humane treatment.
Carrie Agnew is the marketing director of Skamper Industries LLC of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the manufacturer of Skamper-Ramp®, a
patented water escape device for animals. Statistics courtesy of the APPMA 2006/2007 Pet Owners Survey and the American Pet Association (www.
apapets.org).
By Carrie Agnew
Every pet owner with a swimming pool knows that whether they want their animal in the water or not, their pet will probably end
up in the pool at some point, often involuntarily! Even if under constant supervision, the unanticipated takes place—animals
are chased, doors are left open; accidents can and do happen!
With over 71% households in the United States owning at least one pet (and over half of those owning a pool and/or spa), the
issue of water safety, especially around pools, is an important one that must be acknowledged and addressed.
In fact, the pet safety category is one of the fastest growing in the pet industry—and this was before the recent pet food scare.
Products ranging from ID implants to safety gates to flotation vests abound.
Over the past several years a number of articles have been published in newspapers and magazines across the country
specifically on the subject of pet water safety. Specials/segments have been devoted to it on national television programs such
as Animal Planet, Good Morning America and The Early Show, to name just a few. This is largely due to the fact that the odds
are of a pet drowning are 1 out of every 1,028 every year in the United States alone. This equates to as many as 170,000
dogs, cats and small animals! And this figure doesn’t account for the tens of thousands of “critters” that suffer the same fate.
While many pets love the water, others don’t. Most pet owners simply assume that all dogs “know” how to swim, but many do
not and the first time they find themselves in a pool can be traumatic! All pool owners with a dog should introduce their animal
to the water - gradually, in a non-threatening, supervised form. That way, even if the owner doesn’t want their dog swimming in
the pool, at least if it falls or is chased in, their pet won’t immediately panic.
Regardless of whether an animal has jumped or been chased in the water, how they get out can be a major issue. Many pet
owners believe they can train their dog(s) to use the steps. But even this technique isn’t fool-proof, primarily because the dog
can’t see the steps—they are under the water! In reality, the pet has a landmark—such as a plant, fence or tree—but at night
or if in distress- that “learning” is quickly replaced by panic. Then there are all those frogs, squirrels, snakes and possums that
manage to turn up in skimmer baskets after having fallen or been chased in the pool.
The drowning problem can easily be addressed, but requires recognition of the pet’s owner to the dangers posed by pools and
awareness of the available solutions.
Tens of millions of dollars are spent on pets each year. Why? Because these animals are thought of as/considered family
members. In fact, many pet owners will not hesitate to take their animal to the vet at the slightest sign of illness or to purchase
gifts and gadgets to entertain and/or dress them! Many hotels across the country have recognized this trend and register
themselves as “Pet-Friendly.”
A large number of pets, particularly dogs, enjoy swimming but even the youngest, strongest swimmers can panic if they can’t
find their way out, get fatigued or distressed. They will instinctively head for the closest edge of the pool and start clawing their
way around the edge, looking for the exit they remember is there, somewhere. For owners of vinyl-lined pools this is an
extremely expensive problem, as the entire liner may have to be replaced or at least repaired if it is ripped or torn.
Barking for help can cause throat damage to a dog. Because the animal will often bark for help, it swallows a considerable
amount of water in the process and the chemicals in the pool can damage its esophagus. Additionally, chlorine and algaecides
can not only make a dog sick, but also cause coat and skin problems.
When it comes to keeping a pet safe, money isn’t the issue. Effectiveness is. Peace-of-mind is worth more than expense. To
many people, the death of a pet is just as difficult to cope with as a human family member. With the accompanying sense of
acute loss and depression just as real as if it had been a “human” family member.
For pool and spa retailers it is good business sense to offer pet/animal safety products. The numbers—8.35 million pools, with
over 400,000 new pools built every year and over 63% of households having pets—supports this. Customers turn to their pool
service company for help when trying to address their concern for their animals.
For some pet owners, this concern is not only for the safety of their animal, as mentioned earlier, but also for themselves and
their children who have to deal with the “critters” that drown and are found floating in the pool in the morning. This often
requires that the pool water be re-treated —another expensive process.
The solution? Layers of protection.
Many municipalities now require that pools be fenced in. But they aren’t fool-proof. The door can be left open or ajar. Animals
will dig under or slither through them.
Pool covers, especially soft ones, can be as dangerous as an open pool. Animals get caught and can slide underneath and
then are unable to get out, resulting in either suffocation or drowning.
Flotation vests are a viable option; however, like water alarms (water sensitive devices that attach to the animal’s collar) they
require that the pet owner be home to help the animal actually get out of the pool.
Another safety alternative is a water-escape device such as Skamper-Ramp®, which was designed to prevent pets and animals
from drowning by allowing them to exit the water on their own. Fabricated from heavy duty box-corrugated plastic, it comes in
two sizes: Skamper-Ramp for animals under 45 lbs. and Skamper-Ramp Big Dog™ for any pet, but specifically for those over
45 lbs. with longer torsos and is also required if used for most docks and boats. Because the ramp is polypropylene, it is UV-
and chemical-resistant, lightweight (1.5 lbs and: 2.75 lbs. respectively), robust and extremely durable. It is also safe for vinyl
lined pools!
The product works on the premise that it floats and all living things see white. Animals see the ramp breaking the water’s
surface and leading out of the pool or back onto the boat or dock. Whether used pool-side or attached to the stern of a boat or
to a dock, Skamper-Ramp provides pets and animals with a stress-free means of getting out of the water all by themselves and
their owner with peace-of-mind, knowing their pet will be able to take care of/save itself if it becomes panicked.
Skamper-Ramp is sold worldwide and has twice been selected as one of the “Top 50 Products” in a leading U.S. pool trade
publication’s “Readers Choice” awards (2004; 2006). The product has been featured as one of the 'hot new pet products’ on
Good Morning America, The Early Show, Animal Planet, an HGTV “Outdoor Living Expo” special, and Christmas in July. The
American Pet Association also recently awarded Skamper-Ramp with its product “Seal of Approval” as a device that enhances
the well-being of pets and promotes humane treatment.
Carrie Agnew is the marketing director of Skamper Industries LLC of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the manufacturer of Skamper-Ramp®, a
patented water escape device for animals. Statistics courtesy of the APPMA 2006/2007 Pet Owners Survey and the American Pet Association (www.
apapets.org).
| Phone: (408) 625-7263 Info@JellyBeanPets.com www.JellyBeanPets.com |
| Copyright 2008, Jelly Bean Pets. All rights reserved. |
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