What do you get when you combine an interest in business with a love for dogs? Just ask Griffin Moore ’19 about his Senior Independent Project (SIP) — he designed and created a Trinity-Pawling branded dog bed to sell in the School Store!
Moore has two Australian Shepherd dogs at home, Winnie and Biscuit. At the beginning of his freshman year, Moore and Biscuit took a course to become a part of The Good Dog Foundation. “The course was a training session to become a handler and therapy dog,” explained Moore. “It enabled us to work in hospitals and nursing homes.” The mission of The Good Dog Foundation is to promote recovery from trauma and stress using animal-assisted therapy services. Together, Moore and Biscuit frequently visit hospitals and other healthcare centers.
Moore’s experience with The Good Dog Foundation and his interest in business and sales sparked his project idea and propelled it forward. After working closely with his alumni mentor, Mike Quartararo ’85 of 3Dog Pet Supply, Moore’s designed dog bed and business plan quickly took shape. “I learned so much about sales and business products from the process,” he shared. “I made my own business plan, sales sheet, and hangtags. I really enjoyed putting the spread and business sheets together. It has helped me grow as a student and become more aware of tactics used in the business world.”
As his designed dog bed came to life, Moore also wanted to incorporate a way to benefit The Good Dog Foundation — the inspiration behind his project. “The impact that The Good Dog Foundation has on people is like nothing I’ve seen before,” Moore shared. “A visit from a dog while a person is hurt or sick can turn their day around. The more awareness and funds that the Foundation receives, the more people they will be able to help.”
As a result, a portion of the sales from the dog beds in the School Store are donated directly to the organization. With five bed sales so far and more to come in the spring, Moore is very pleased with his project’s results — bringing comfort to our four-legged friends, school pride to our homes, and support for a cause close to his heart.
To purchase a Trinity-Pawling dog bed, please visit the School Store.
by Emma Christiantelli