Our Story

Hi there, 

I'm Robb, and I'd like to thank you for visiting our store. I’d also like to thank you for taking the time to learn more about my best friend Tofurkey, our story, and our product. 

As a vegetarian / vegan of many years, Tofurky played a central role in my childhood holidays (We aren't affiliated, but if someone at Tofurky HQ is reading this, hint hint...). Twenty years ago, you could scarcely find a Tofurky holiday roast within hours of my hometown. Still, in a labor of love, my parents never let a holiday pass without ensuring I had my cherished round of tofu. 

Fast forward to the morning of November 9, 2024. I arrived at a local adoption event to find a quartet of pens filled with dogs big and small. For most dogs, the shelter had compiled relevant care information and preferences into cute little care sheets, which were affixed to the pens so that passersby could learn about the dogs. One sheet contained far less information, scrawled haphazardly in sharpie. 

Tofurkey Male Beagle Mix 2ish y/o

Well, I'd never said no to Tofurky before, so I at least had to meet the guy. The volunteers pointed me to a volunteer in the far back corner of the pen. She was holding a shaking black and white lump. 

They told me that he had only recently arrived at the shelter and knew nothing more about him. Clear to all though was that he was not a happy boy. 

An hour later, he trusted me enough to go for a walk, and the farther we walked around the parking lot, the less he tucked his tail and the higher he held his head.

You know how the rest of the story goes. I brought Tofurkey home, and my life was changed forever. I could go on and on about my dog, and I'm sure you could too (drop me a line anytime to share yours, seriously!), but you're here because of the bag, so I'll pick up the pace.

When Tofurkey and I first flew home to see family, his stress was palpable. Understandably so - travel is stressful. I am sure he could feel my stress too. 

Once on the plane, he started whimpering and pawing at his carrier, trying to escape, with a target of my comforting lap, I suspect. Policy required that he stay in his carrier at all times, so I naturally unzipped the bag just enough to pet him. This was uncomfortable for me, suboptimal for him, and ultimately led to an attempted escape that only exacerbated the stress of the situation. 

In the weeks that followed, I searched for a new carrier but couldn't find one that really solved the problem. Plenty featured "head holes" that facilitated a pat of the head, or even, at the right angle, a more meaningful pet. But none were designed to do the three things I deemed necessary to soothe our nerves. 

(1) Maximize persistent contact comfort,

(2) account for human physiology and ease of use, and

(3) minimize escape risk and exposure to stressful stimuli.

A long road followed, and after a year and a half’s worth of development and iteration, I am so excited to share the Pop n Pet with you. I hope that you and yours love the Pop n Pet, and I am excited to make it better day by day.

As for Tofurkey, he now walks with his head high and his tail even higher, with a pep in his step that would have been unrecognizable at the beginning of our journey together. I cannot imagine life without him

With love, 

Robb