pillows for paws3
TRANSCRIPT
Diana Tiger BuchmanCREATIVE DIRECTOR/DESIGN RESEARCHERPILLOWS FOR PAWS
OUR GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
What Makes Pillows for Paws Unique?
Pillows for Paws uses User Design Principles to provide enrichment items to NYC shelter animals
Volunteers (informants) embedded in the NYC Animal Care & Control facility give us direct feedback on issues, needs, and how our products are working. ACC is the county’s largest shelter. Over 30,000 pets pass through each
year. One of the first places to get the budget ax. The need is great. The resources are few.
Our Pillows Issue:
Durability Beds were thrown out when inner layer (batting) began
to shift Seams easily split due to rough usage by animal and
fragile fabric Cost
Easier to find fabric for donation than batting Easy to clean and sanitize
Must be able to endure multiple washes and be easy to dry
Looks Research has shown that shelter animals placed in cute
settings are more easily adopted Time
Adding durability can increase production time
Batting – Pillows for Paws First User Research TestBecause we all know cats will ly on anything, even plastic bags
Polyester Batting Synthetic product Less durable Requires more quilting Scratchy when not encased in fabric Thick, harder to sew on machines
Cotton Batting Natural product More durable Requires less quilting Very comfortable to work with Thinner, so it’s easier to sew
Batting – Pillows for Paws First User Research Test
This is LilyBeth. LilyBeth has an obvious preference. LilyBeth could not be persuaded by my arguments of why cotton was a better choice. LilyBeth is a traitor.
About half the cats (50%) preferred the thicker Polyester batting. The other half showed no preference at all. Polyester won!
Hammocks: Success or Failure?
The public loves seeing cats sleeping in hammocks. We got a special request and we tried to meet the need.
Can only be used at adoption events in stand-alone cages.
Due to logistics within the ACC facility, they need to be laundered separately if they are to be used more than once.
HammocksPillows for Paws Design Research Failure?
Despite many hours of discussing design and price points with our imbedded ACC informant, the information we received was incorrect
One of the special requests we received was to make sure the attachment hooks separate. Easier to launder hammocks and keeps the price point down.
The hooks were lost and never reunited with the hammocks. Instead workers cut the hammocks in an attempt to make them reusable. In actuality they made them completely unusable.
Lesson: We relied on information from one source. We should have double-checked with other individuals and organizations. This was a costly mistake in both time and money.
Hammocks Redesigned
Easy to use hooks that are permanently attached Dual fabrics: One for comfort in cooler weather the other for warm
weather Reinforced seams
Our ToysCatnip
Made with scraps of fabric and batting leftover from the bed making
A brand new product line made for the price of catnip ($25/lb) Must be a minimum size (2.5” x 3.5”) otherwise they fall through
the bars of the cages
Our ToysCat Dancers
Biggest issue:need to sanitize after use
Created a design that used Human Grade Chopsticks Can sanitize using dishwasher,
autoclave or washing machine Cost was minimal ($2.00/dz)
Made with scraps of yarn Great short term project for people
who knit or crochet. Can be made in a few minutes. Can be safely embellished in a multitude of ways.
Our ToysCage Dancers
Old idea Easy to make Great for kids at education event Perfect for kittens who haven’t yet
developed the nasal receptors for catnip
Great for cats who don’t like catnip
Our ToysJingle Balls
Plastic is not sterilizable. So must be a single use item.
Can get expensive
Issue:
Solution: Recreated the toy using less expensive,
disposable products Everybody loves finding a use for TP rolls Also great for rabbits. They like to play
too.
Our ToysTiger Tugs
Issues: Need toys good for big dogs and
heavy chewers because smaller dogs are easier to foster Almost all the dogs at ACC are
Pitt Bulls Rope toys are not allowed due to
issues regarding sterilization
Solutions: Created a rope-like toy using fleece
(unwoven fabric) knotted to increase durability
Easy to teach and can be done by anybody
Toy can be created for $0.20 to $0.50/each (depends on the cost of fleece)
Our ToysFlying Saucer Toys
Originally designed by Gennie Perez, volunteer designer. Made of donated over-felted wool and a squeaker.
Cannot recreate with wool because it would be too expensive and it’s too rare as a donation item.
Re-designed with fleece and an inner lining of bulletproof nylon. Recreated same touch and feel but a more reasonable price point.
Our ToysSpiders
100% a Gennie Perez masterpiece. Took elements from Flying Saucer toy, Tiger Tugs & a no-sew catnip toy.
Other than technically being Gennie’s supervisor, I cannot take any credit except for recognizing genius. Part of being a good supervisor is knowing when not to mess with greatness.
RabbitsThe most forgotten of ACC’s adoptable animals
Issues: Rabbits need to chew. Their
front teeth continuously grow and must be worn down or they will become ingrown.
Despite what Bugs Bunny thinks, carrots are not good for rabbits. They are too sweet and can cause health problems.
Solutions: TP roll treats & toys People love finding a use for
all those TP rolls. Also provides lots of roughage for the rabbits.
We also make toys out of commercially available products purchased from pet stores
Rabbit Toys & TreatsA Unique Problem
There are many treats for rabbits that should be of minimal or no cost that are difficult to source inside of NYC Applewood from unsprayed trees
Most orchards in the Northeast use active pest management. This means many trees in an orchard may or may not have been sprayed.
Willow branches from a reliable source It is illegal to harvest any botanical item from a State or National park. Need
a private source with a clean water supply Dried corn husks
Does not need to be organic, but cannot be sprayed. A rarity in the Northeast We continue to work to find appropriate, reliable, low-cost sources of
these supplies
To Be AnnouncedItems on the Drawing Board
Rabbit Pillows Must be completely edible. Will be made on a loom using Sisal or Sea Grass for
warp and wefted with willow, corn husks or other edible materials Hammocks & toys for small mammals
Many small mammals are abandoned at ACC everyday. Guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, ferrets, mice. They are passed along to private rescue organizations that specialize in those animals.
Toys & Treats for Birds Like small mammals, many are abandoned and sent to private rescue
organizations. There are many species of birds in captivity, each with their own special needs.
Tools for Wildlife Rehabilitation We meet special needs as we can using the same Design Research principles we
use with all our other users.
To Be AnnouncedItems on the Drawing Board
We have worked hard to develop relationships with veterinarians who specialize in exotics, rehabilitators, rescue groups and those who adopt exotics. We consult them to determine their needs with each species and we actively seek feedback on all our products.