Artisanal, Sustainable Dog Toys? ‘Gone To The Dogs’ Opens in Brooklyn
Women-owned, female- founded shop’s grand opening to benefit Paws NY, others
NEW YORK -- Gone To The Dogs, an e-commerce purveyor of artisanal and earth-friendly pet goods touted by BuzzFeed and Time Out, announces the grand opening of its first brick-and-mortar shop in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.
The company -- founded by Santos Agustin and Jennifer Wong -- initially launched in 2020 as an online store providing an alternative to mass-produced dog accessories sold at big-box chains.
Gone To The Dogs harnesses the talents of artisans and makers from Nepal to Cambodia and Peru to Harlem in creating one-of-a-kind products, including handmade toys, wearables, and leashes for dogs.
Each of the hand-crafted items are sourced from recycled, reclaimed, or renewable materials. Sales directly help artisans globally in creating ethically driven pet toys with the kind of craftsmanship unavailable at major retailers. For those looking to find artisan goods that give back, these handmade wool toys alone help support roughly 70 women-led families in Kathmandu, Nepal.
“We don’t want just anyone producing our products,” said Agustin. “As a women-owned business with female founders, we partner with a diverse group of women around the world, who all share one commonality – need for an opportunity to harness an independent income.”
Wong shares, “We collaborate with makers from low-income and immigrant communities in our local Brooklyn and broader New York City areas as well as marginalized communities outside of the United States”
Wong and Agustin will hold a grand opening for the new store on Friday, Oct. 22 in an event that will benefit Paws NY and Happiness Animal Rescue Alliance (HARA). The dog pop up event in Brooklyn will showcase the business’ sustainable products and growing community, while offering fun for the pooches. Special guests will include dog food truck Woofbowl and The Puppercup, which serves ice cream for dogs.
The opening underscores the trend that 75 percent of Americans in their 30s own dogs, according to global market research firm Mintel. Statistics show that Millennials are half as likely to be married than they were 50 years ago — meaning America’s buying habits are being driven by a generation dedicated to sharing their love for their fur babies.
The hashtag #Dog has been used 160 million times on Instagram. The NYC Economic Development Corp. estimates that there are 600,000 dogs living across the five boroughs. Gone To The Dogs links together a local movement for pet ownership and wellness while bringing together international communities to improve financial equity in those communities.
The NYC event will be taking place on Friday, October 22nd from 1pm – 8pm Eastern at 103 7th Avenue, Brooklyn. The new store will feature products and vendors from across the city. For more details, see the event page, here.
All inquiries can be directed to Santos Agustin at info@gonetothedogs.co