TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY (EVERYDAY!) MADE POSSIBLE WITH
FRESH WAVE® ODOR NEUTRALIZERS FOR STINKY PETS!!
A dog, a cat and a bottle of Fresh Wave spray!
BARRINGTON, ILL (June 12, 2007) OMI Industries [OMI] the manufacturer of Fresh Wave® odor neutralizing products for the home, introduced its pet line last fall. The Fresh Wave product line was so effective in eliminating all pet odors, OMI created Fresh Wave Odor Neutralizer for Stinky Pets for ‘those who love living with their pets.’
OMI knows the importance of pet ownership – not just because many of their customers are pet related businesses – but also because many of their employees are pet lovers owning: horses, cats, and dogs.
One of the primary reasons that pet owners – especially first time owners – abandon pets is due to odors. “Sometimes for new pet owners, odors are unexpected or more intense than remembered from their childhood.” explains Kathleen Quinn, OMI’s director of marketing. “Since pet odors can be eliminated with a simple, natural product – like Fresh Wave – it makes it easier to encourage adopting abandoned pets. There is a safe solution.”
OMI, along with thousands nationwide, will celebrate Take Your Dog to Work Day [TYDTWD] at their Barrington, Illinois headquarters. Quinn states, “We realize the importance of pets at OMI. Not only because many of our customers include pet related retailers, but many of our employees own pets themselves. Since we manufacture Fresh Wave odor neutralizers – we don’t worry about pets being on-site in our offices.”
OMI does no animal testing on its products (unless you consider our R&D Director, Chuck Timcik washing his dog, “Woody” with our new pet shampoo testing!!) and has been a pet friendly company for some time. Jim Elwood regularly brings “Otis” his white Boxer, and “Trooper” his black Labrador retriever to work at the manufacturing facility.
Recently one staffer at OMI’s corporate headquarters -- Barbie Chmieleski -- suffered the death of one-of-a-pair of her golden retrievers. To help her through the loss, her remaining pooch, “Picasso,” was allowed to tag along to work. Not only has “Picasso” been on-site ever since – but one of her co-workers “dog-sits” for her when she goes out of town. When that happens, Margie Kelly brings both “Picasso” and her dog “Nielsen” to the office.
“There are so many positives to owning a pet.” says Quinn, “If you can share that with a co-worker--especially one who doesn’t have a pet – you’ll be doing something good for them and you. But first you need to get a pet – so we hope you’ll consider adopting. You won’t regret having a furry friend at home – especially when you don’t need to worry about odors!”
Today, more than ever, pets are true family members. The statistics bear this out:
- 63% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 69.1 million homes
- 45% of U.S. households own more than one pet
- In 1988, the first year the survey was conducted, 56% of U.S. households owned a pet as compared to the 63% of present day.
Pet owners who take their well-behaved, well-groomed pets into the workplace can encourage pet-less co-workers to adopt one of their own. The local animal shelters, humane organizations and rescue groups are all in need of families to adopt. Owning a pet can be healthy, too.
Pets Create a Healthy Environment at Home or at Work
In fact, studies and statistics point out the positive side of pet ownership, here are just a few:
- Having a pet may decrease heart attack mortality by 3%. This translates into 30,000 lives saved annually.
- Couples who own cats or dogs have closer relationships, are more satisfied in marriage and respond better to stress than couples who do not, a University at Buffalo study has shown.
- Seniors who own dogs go to the doctor less than those who do not. In a study of 100 Medicare patients, even the most highly stressed dog owner in the study has 21 percent fewer physician's contacts than non-dog owners.
- Contact with pets develops nurturing behavior in children who may grow to be more nurturing adults.
- Positive self-esteem of children is enhanced by owning a pet.
Children owning pets are more involved in activities such as sports, hobbies, clubs or chores.
Pets-in-the-Workplace Protocol
Once you decide to allow pets on site – whether it is for a special event or as a matter of routine – it is smart to use Fresh Wave products in the work place to neutralize odors and follow these suggestions:
- Poll employees to get a feel for how pets onsite will be received
- Decide if you will have one special pet day (like Furry Friend Friday) or allow them on-site all the time
- Check with your HR department about liability your company might have
- Be sensitive to staffers concerns and allergies
- Determine if your facility has the layout inside and out for pet activity
- Make sure pet owners are responsible for the care of and cleaning up after their own animals
- Be prepared for pet disruptions from barking to chasing to licking!!!
Fresh Wave products safely eliminate pet odors without masking or adding strong fragrances. That is due to the proprietary blend that Fresh Wave products are comprised of: all-natural extracts of Aniseed, Clove, Cedar-wood, Lime, Pine Needle and Soya. Fresh Wave products are non-toxic, non-hazardous, and biodegradable and contain no harmful volatile organic compounds [VOC]. Since there are no harsh chemicals – you won’t have the issues that you might if you introduce traditional air fresheners.
How does it work?
Fresh Wave attracts the molecules that form odors electrostatically, captures them and neutralizes them—leaving you with a natural smelling, odor-free environment. Data from independent laboratories and researchers prove Fresh Wave products are effective for all kinds of odors while being safe for humans, animals and the environment.
About the Fresh Wave® Product Lines
The Fresh Wave line began simply with a spray, a gel and a soy-based candle. Now there are two lines, one in home decor packaging and the other in pet. The line has expanded as well and now includes pearl pack sachets, vacuum pearls and Laundry & Cleaning Additive that all can be safely used in households to neutralize pet and other household odors.
The Fresh Wave product line includes a variety of forms easy and safe enough for almost anyone to use: Immediate release products include an 8 oz Home Spray; a 2 ounce Travel Spray; and a Soy Candle. The Laundry & Cleaning Additive (LCA) is an immediate release product, too that can be used in steam cleaners, extractors and in the laundry.
Continuous release products include the popular Crystal Gel in both 64 oz and 16 oz sizes. There are Vacuum Pearls that quell the musty, exhaust odors from vacuums; and Pearl Pack Sachets that can be used in small spaces such as shoes, suitcases, pet carriers, and more.
How Fresh Wave Products Can Be Used in Your Home
The Fresh Wave Soy-based Candle not only removes pet odors but it takes care of cooking odors, too. Who wants to smell fish in the air the day after cooking it? (Besides the cat that is!) The Fresh Wave Candle line retails for $14 to $38 depending on the container.
Then there is Fresh Wave Spray. It’s safe enough to spray into the air. You can even spray it on a dog to get rid of the funky damp doggy smell after a walk in the rain or directly on the upholstery after his nap. This spray removes odors without adding a fragrance and eliminates them with out masking the original offending odor. The sprays retail for $5 to $10.
It’s so safe you can even add it to the laundry for those new pet accidents. Or use it after pet accident clean-ups to fully remove odors.
Fresh Wave Laundry & Cleaning Additive (LCA) is just that – an odor neutralizing liquid that can be added as needed to remove odors. For example – add to the laundry when washing sweaty sports uniforms or pet bedding. Use in the carpet cleaner or extractor to remove deeply embedded odors in the carpet. Use in a vaporizer to remove large surface odors such as paint or household chemical fumes and smoke from tobacco or a fire!
The Fresh Wave Crystal Gel – is our most popular product. Simply open and set out and it works with no other help. It eliminates odors 24/7. Set it near the kitty litter, in a basement, the bathroom. This unusual product lasts for 30 - 90 days and retails for $15 in a 16 oz jar. There is also a 64 oz Super Gel that can be poured into many contains to be used in multiple locations at one time.
Fresh Wave Pearl Sachets can be tucked under a dog bed, into a pet carrier or even in a pair of gym shoes to remove odors. The jar of sachets retails for $16. The Fresh Wave Vacuum Pearls keep pet hair smells and dust and dander from exhausting back out while vacuuming. They retail for $12.
Fresh Wave® Home products “For the Naturally Green Home” and Fresh Wave® Odor Neutralizer for Stinky Pets, “For Those Who Love Living with Their Pets” can be found at retailers such as Whole Foods Markets, Sur La Table, The Container Store, select ACE Hardware stores and many local specialty stores. To find out more about the Fresh Wave line of natural odor neutralizers please visit fresh-wave.com or contact Kathleen Quinn at 847-304-9111.
OMI Industries, an international odor management firm, is headquartered in Barrington at 18-6 East Dundee Road, Suite 101, Illinois, 60010. They have product manufacturing facilities in Rising Sun, Indiana and Houston, Texas; equipment manufacturing facilities in and, research and development laboratories are in Newbury Park, California. Fresh Wave® is a registered trademark of OMI Industries.
< Back |
