FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information, contact:

Carrie Agnew, Mktg. Director

Charleston, SC: Skamper-Ramp^® dba Skamper Industries, LLC manufacturer of the Skamper-Ramp^® recently received the highly respected American Pet Association’s (APA) Seal of Approval for its water-escape ramp that prevents animals from drowning.

Founded in 1991, the APA is an “independent national humane organization dedicated to effectively promoting responsible pet ownership.”  The organization offers programs and services to help pets coexist with their owners safely and in a humane environment.

The APA reviews pet products, testing them for reliability, ease of use, structural design integrity, durability and actual benefits to pets and/or their owners.  The review is completely unbiased, allowing consumers to buy those products with the APA Seal of Approval with confidence.  This is especially important for a unique new product like the Skamper-Ramp.

According to the APA, “Skamper-Ramp gives pet owners and animal lovers a means of safeguarding against unnecessary pet-panic in the water or death due to drowning. It gives them with peace-of-mind since the ramp allows animals to safely exit the water on their own, without any assistance.”

The APA went on to say “We are proud to give our Seal of Approval and recommend Skamper-Ramp to any pet owner with or living near water access, since pets are often considered important family members who require the same protection as young children. The fact that tens of thousands of pets drown every year is a testament to the need for a device like Skamper-Ramp and to be aware not only of the danger water can pose but also of steps owners can take to prevent this unnecessary and preventable form of death.  We especially like the fact that the Skamper-Ramp works by itself, since so many drownings occur at night when owners are usually unavailable to help them.”

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Skamper-Ramp is patented and available is two sizes, “regular” for animals under 45 lbs., and the Skamper-Ramp Big Dog™, which provides a safe, less stressful way for pets over 45 lbs. to exit a pool or for any size animal to get back on most docks and some boats.

Jay Waddell, managing partner of Skamper Industries, points out that the ramps are

constructed entirely of box-corrugated, heavy duty plastic (polypropylene) giving them an extremely high strength-to-weight ratio. Polypropylene is highly durable, robust and chemical- and UV-resistant as well as cost-effective.  The ramp works in part because it is white—the one color all living things can see and angles down into the water, placing it at their eye level.

Because Skamper Industries is devoted to pet safety and specifically pet water safety in pools, it is a member of the APPMA (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association), PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), APSP (Association of Pool and Spa Professionals) and an IPG (Independent Pool Group-Canada) product associate. 

Skamper-Ramp has twice been honored as one of the “Top 50 Readers Choice Products” by Pool & Spa Magazine readers (2004 and 2006) and was selected as one of the “10 Lowcountry Innovators” by the Charleston Regional Business Journal.

Along with the APA, the ramp is endorsed by veterinarians across the United States and has been featured on a number of national television programs, including Good Morning America, The Early Show, and Animal Planet. It was one of only 11 products chosen to be included in the nationally syndicated Animal Radio show segment recorded during the SuperZoo pet show in Las Vegas last September.  The product is also slated to appear on an upcoming HGTV Outdoor Living special on  April 22, 2007.

Skamper Industries is a locally owned and operated company in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Established in 2003, their product is available through resellers, e-tailers and catalogues throughout the United States, Canada, the European Union, Cyprus, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.   The firm is dedicated to the safety, health and well-being of all pets and other animals.

For more detailed product information, FAQs and retailer listings, visit www.skamper-ramp.com.  For more information about the APA, visit www.apapets.org.