A Burnaby business that specializes in rescue equipment has created new accessories that'll keep dogs active and prevent unnecessary waste from reaching the landfill.
Coast Ropes, as well as Climb Base5 in North Vancouver, has taken donated "retired" search and rescue (SAR) ropes and upcycled them into eco-friendly toys and leashes for local pet owners.
The initiative, inspired by volunteers, is a fundraiser with 100 per cent of the proceeds earmarked for Coquitlam and Kamloops SAR crews.
"I noticed a Coquitlam SAR social media post about dog toys made from retired rope that they were selling and saw an opportunity to help them," said Ryan Lewis, director of operations for Coast Ropes, in a news release, "so I reached out to see if we could assist them."
Tom Rankin of Kamloops SAR, using his knot-tying skills and some old rope, created the first dog toy and sold it, plus the ones that followed, as a "fundraising exercise," the campaign's statement explained.
It was then adopted by Dwight Yochim of Coquitlam SAR and the local chapter produced 150 toys that quickly sold.
Coast Ropes added one recent order included 30 for the BC Search Dog Association's fall training camp.
“It is amazing to have this support from Coast Ropes, who is well known in the SAR community as they are a provider of a lot of our rope rescue equipment," said Coquitlam SAR president Nick Zupan.
"Now, they are directly helping to support SAR with their offer to sell these toys."
Interested pet owners can find the upcycled dog toys, at $20 each, online on Coast Ropes' website or in its Burnaby store — located at 102-6939 Hastings St. The leashes are six feet long.
As well, the toys can be found at Good Dog daycare's locations in Port Moody (2911 Murray St.) and Port Coquitlam (331 Laurier Ave.).
