Gen.T honouree and Buddy Bites co-founder Ryan Black explains his reason for why dogs should be celebrated saying, “I can’t stress how much joy my dog Whisky brings into my life. Just ask anyone who knew me before we adopted her, I was a nightmare! If you have any issues, get yourself a Whisky. As in, my dog, just to be clear.”

Co-founder and circular economy officer, Orgafeed

One worry about taking in and feeding a dog can be the resulting carbon footprint. It has been estimated that an average-sized 22kg dog could account for 530kg of CO₂ emissions per year. As a result, some owners have been turning to what they see as more sustainable food alternatives. One company providing this is Bangkok-based startup Orgafeed.

The company produces dog food and snacks from insect protein under the Laika brand. They use the black soldier fly larvae which are raised on a diet of recycled food and organic byproducts—including waste and fruit and vegetable scraps. Using this circular economy method, food wastage and production costs, both monetary and environmental, are massively reduced.

Orgafeed co-founder and circular economy officer, Ittikorn Thepmani says he believes any dog is deserving of celebration, “The level of his loyalty, his love and his support, just like his excitement whenever you get back home, will never ever disappear.” He added, “Rain or shine, dogs will always be at my side.”

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Founder and CEO, Fetch! Naturals

As any dog owner will tell you, keeping a dog clean can be daunting. The curious creatures love jumping into many a puddle, grass patch and hedge. Not only does this put your furniture and flooring at risk of soiling, but it also potentially invites fleas, ticks and skin irritations. Gen.T honouree Georgianna Carlos discovered this when her Bichon Frise—named Khal Drogo—repeatedly developed rashes. 

Not wanting to use products made with synthetic ingredients, Carlos turned to natural products. However, she found that the available items on the market only provided temporary protection. This is what led Carlos to look into a neem-based solution to Drogo’s woes and eventually founding Fetch! Naturals.

The Philippines-based company was started with the goal of providing natural care products for dogs. The company has now launched Petpreneurs, a network of dog-owning retailers supporting the company’s product range.

Carlos says, “Dogs are worth celebrating because they love unconditionally—not caring how we look or how successful our careers are."

Read more: AI, sustainability and coming to terms with failure at the heart of She Loves Tech conference in Hong Kong

Co-founder and CEO, OneDegree

Sometimes—and we certainly hope not—a beloved pooch may require medical attention that could end up being costly. While pet insurance has long been a norm in the West to counter this, it’s only seen large-scale adoption in Asia in recent years.

One company leading the way in that regard is the Hong Kong-based insurer OneDegree. The company offers the city’s only pet insurance policies without sub-limits. Its simplified approach to insurance is aimed at onboarding owners who might be put off by a more complicated process. The company recently closed its Series B funding round at $55 million.

Co-founder and CEO of OneDegree, Alvin Kwock, gives his rationale for celebrating dogs saying, “When we adopt a dog, we think we’re providing fullness to its life. I think it’s the other way around. They actually complete our lives with their unconditional love, loyalty, companionship, cheerful character and adorable faces. They bring a lot of sunshine to a house.”

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