July 22, 2008

Hypoallergenic dog with own allergies leads to business idea. (Pet Pulse Photo by Ruben Rodriguez, Design by Mike Lloyd)

NEW YORK -- After Adam Kroll adopted a hypoallergenic Shih Tzu named Hudson, he was surprised to learn that Hudson had as many allergies as he does.

“I am allergic to everything. I’m actually highly allergic to dogs,” Kroll said of choosing a hypoallergenic pet.

Luckily, Hudson and Kroll are not allergic to each other. But, Hudson started taking medicine daily for his allergies and, to help matters, Kroll started making some changes around the house.

"We never really specifically figured out what he was allergic to but we started removing things and started living a more natural lifestyle around him."

In an effort to live a more chemical-free life, Kroll went on a search for new products to use on Hudson.

Both Hudson and Kroll were frustrated with the hypoallergenic pet products available. Hudson did not respond favorably to anything Kroll brought home and Kroll realized there were no products on the market that were both organic and environmentally friendly.

Kroll saw this hole in the market as an opportunity to develop a line of natural, organic pet products that were also “green.” And, Green Paws was born.

"If we start with a good pure product, let's build around that. Let's not cut corners, let's not look for ways to make things cheaper and let's grow the business organically," Kroll said of his philosophy for Green Paws.

And, that's when Kroll used his professional experience to create the new line to use on Hudson that is both organic and green.

As it turns out, Kroll grew up in the chemical maintenance supply business and used this as a resource to develop shampoos and other products for Hudson.

The first thing he did was remove Sodium Laurel Sulfate from his products.

"These are foaming agents that are in almost everything from hand soaps to your toothpaste to certain things like industrial cleaners and this is also what makes up most shampoos,” Kroll said. "Some people say it can be ‘a harm’ and it dries out the skin and could be making allergies worse."

Green Paws products are not a sure-fire allergy relief remedy, but it is a green option that is also organic and natural.

The products are certified organic. They are biodegradable and made from renewable resources.

"We started this brand with the theory that in order to have a green dog you don't have to change your lifestyle. It's as simple as grabbing one bottle of the shelf versus the other," Kroll said.

As for the true founder of Green Paws, Kroll said “Hudson gets all our sales.”

For more information on Green Paws, visit GreenPawsDirect.com.

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