This Will Make Your Tail Wag: Atlanta-based PuppyFax to connect responsible breeders, owners

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Not much is cuter than a puppy, as they (usually) come with a wagging tail and unconditional love. But when searching for a pup, how can you be sure they didn’t come from a puppy mill or have hidden health issues? An Atlanta-based startup via the University of Georgia wants to give potential dog owners piece of mind with its newest app, PuppyFax.

Like searching for a new-to-you car, PuppyFax, founded by Tommy Naranjo and co-founded by Preston Tucker, provides prospective dog owners with a pup’s lineage and owner history. In an article for The Red & Black, Tucker’s family bought a German Shepherd, only to experience health complications with the new pup. The dog, according to the family’s vet, came from an irresponsible breeder, likely one who was operating a puppy mill. For context, a puppy mill is defined as an establishment that breeds puppies for sale, typically on an intensive basis and in conditions regarded as inhumane. According to the American SPCA, puppies who are reared in a puppy mill can come with health and behavioral problems that are difficult or impossible to treat–comparable to a car that has been ‘abused’ by a previous owner.

“PuppyFax is basically a platform, kind of like Airbnb, that connects people who are searching for a puppy, and they’re wanting a purebred dog or are going through a breeder, to responsible breeders,” Naranjo said. The app will allow owners to view a puppy’s verified health documents and pedigree information. All PuppyFax breeders must meet the guidelines set by the platform.

Naranjo hopes to expand the PuppyFax application nationwide to help breeders, buyers and dogs across the U.S. The app is set to launch “very soon.” The PuppyFax website can be located by clicking here.

Working on innovative platforms like PuppyFax? Did you know that you can receive up to 14% back on your research expenses with the R&D Tax Credit? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is a Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Trackums: The Pet Tracker so you’ll never lose your furry friend again

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Ever worry that a beloved lost dog or cat will never be found? That’s what happened to David Wareikis, CEO of Bluejay Wireless. Shortly after his marriage to his wife Rockelle, her dog went missing. To the family’s dismay, they were unable to find the lost pet. With the conviction that pets aren’t just animals but family, Wareikis started Trackums, the smart GPS tracker for pets.

The Carrollton-based Trackums launched this year. It offers a unique, modern solution to an old problem of missing pets. Attached to a pet’s collar, Trackums is cellular-based and comes with nationwide GPS tracking so a WiFi or a Bluetooth connection isn’t needed to track the whereabouts of the missing pet. Owners can set up “safe areas” using the Geofencing and Location Alerts feature for when their pets venture off from these safe areas. The device also consists of a virtual ID tag, a safety light, and even a 2 Megapixel camera for pet owners to stalk the secret lives of their pets.  If that’s not secure enough, the device comes with a two-way calling feature so owners can communicate with their pets and if a pet becomes lost, someone can contact the owner directly using Trackums.

Trackums works for all animals, from dogs, cats, bunnies, and even pet rooster. Not only does it provide the state-of-the-art telecommunications technology, it is also built with the pet-proof toughness needed to endure all of your pets’ adventures. Are you experimenting with building new tracking technologies to protect your pets and loved ones? Did you know that your prototypes even if unsuccessful are eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

R&D Tax Credits for Pet Tech and Toys

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Data from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) states that over 65% of US households own a pet, with around 86 million cats and 78 million dogs across the country. Pet-owners are spoiling their furry friends more than ever. Countless toys pervade the market and “pet tech” like GPS trackers, pet cameras and activity monitors have become popular ways to help keep pets safe and healthy. In fact, the wearable market for pets is expected to reach $2.36 billion by 2022.

If your business creates pet technology or other pet items, you may be eligible for R&D tax credits. Items like dog bones, hamster wheels and even protective pet shoes may count as eligible R&D, as well as innovative water and food dispensers, pet brushes and work undertaken to improve pet nutrition and behavior. The development of software and apps to create or improve technologies such as “fitbits” for dogs or pet door technology are often eligible as long as they meet the requirements below.

3D printing of pet products is a strong indicator of innovative activity as it is often used to create one-off prototypes to economically test ideas. This can be useful for products like retractable dog leashes, which often fail during use. Another area of 3D development is pet prosthetics, where 3D scanners can custom fit a pet with a fitted limb.

R&D activities must do the following:

  • Require experimentation
  • Attempt to eliminate an unknown
  • Be technological or scientific in nature
  • Be a new or improved product, service, process or technology

If you are unsure whether your work qualifies for R&D tax credits, or you would like expert assistance in making a claim, please contact Swanson Reed R&D Tax Consultants. You may also be interested in our free, online eligibility test.