Reproduced from the December 2006 issue of
Downeast Dog News

I met Debby Fitch exactly one year ago, when she was selling the most beautiful Christmas dog collars at a crafts fair in Rockport, and Downeast Dog News was only a concept. At the time, I talked with Debby and her husband and learned a little bit of the story behind Truman Collars. Even then, I had the idea that if I got this dog newspaper business off the ground, theirs would make a great story. I'm glad to be able to share the Truman Collar story with readers in this month's Dog Jobs profile.

DDN: How did you get started making collars?

DF: It all started when I became bored after retiring from my job at the Cooperative Extension office in July 2004. I originally had the idea to make collars for Pound Puppies. I had purchased a bunch through eBay and was giving them away to homeless children that I'd met through my previous work at the Extension office. I started Googling and looking for places to get patterns for collars. Then I thought to myself, "Well if I can make them for Pound Puppies, I should just make regular collars for dogs." I made a few for my own dogs and then started making them for people my husband worked with.

DDN: When did this project become a business for you?

DF: I didn't go out and get a big loan or buy a bunch of equipment and materials to start big. It started slowly and I began selling a little at a time here and there. I did a few crafts fairs and a small dog show in Bangor and then made my own displays. That's when I realized I could earn money making collars.

DDN: I understand you donate a portion of all proceeds to charity?

DF: Yes. I donate 25 percent of all sales to the Morris Animal Foundation. I didn't start this business to make money. In fact, it was our Bernese mountain dog, Truman, who was the backbone of the whole project—and thus the namesake of the business. He had died in January 2004 and I wanted to do something in his memory, because he'd given so much in a short time as a therapy dog. I wanted to find a charity to donate the proceeds, but I didn't know what kind.

DDN: Why did you choose the Morris Animal Foundation as the recipient of your proceeds?

DF: I did a lot of research online. I was looking for a charity that was reputable and had been around a long time. I found the Morris Animal Foundation and then the Meisha's Hope Fund, which is for hemolytic anemia, specifically. Truman died from hemolytic anemia and I felt that I wanted to try to help spare other dogs and prevent people from going through what we went through. I wanted to help to find a cure for it. And, I knew that any breed of dog—even a mixed breed—could get this disease, so knew it would be well-accepted and supported by everybody.

DDN: Did you have a goal about how much money you wanted to raise?

DF: My initial goal was simply to make a $500 donation to the Morris Animal Foundation so that I could have a plaque there to memorialize Truman. I generated $2,000 in sales for the $500 donation (25 percent of sales) by the end of 2004. I was thrilled and I've never looked back.

DDN: Tell me about Truman, the inspiration for your collars.

DF: We got Truman from a breeder in northern Quebec. We were expecting a female puppy that we were going to name Abby, but we ended up with Truman instead. I think he was meant to come to us. I get chills every time I think about how he came from eight hours away to live with us and carry out his life mission of therapy dog work. Truman had empathy for people and he was just meant to do therapy work. He made them at ease in a very short time—even people that seemed to be a little bit leery of big dogs. He always had a smile on his face and his tail was always wagging.

DDN: What kind of collars do you make?

DF: I make collars with buckles and martingale collars, which are designed for dogs that have a tendency to "slip" their collars. I take custom orders, too. I tell people that if you have something that you want specially made, just ask me. I do a lot of custom work. Truman collars are available in all different patterns and trims. In fact, I probably have the biggest selection of Edelweiss trim anywhere because of the requests I get from people with Bernese mountain dogs. This time of year, I sell a lot of holiday collars. I have gift certificates now, too.

DDN: Where can people find Truman Collars?

DF: I sell the collars at crafts fairs, dog shows, on my Web site and at some retail stores. I also provide holiday collars on consignment and sell collars wholesale. I'm working on a project making 30 collars for a woman in Virginia. She is selling the collars for a $25 donation and all of the proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. You really can find them in so many different places.

DDN: Are you surprised by how the business has taken off?

DF: I never in a million years would have imagined where I am at now. I was happy to earn the original $500 to donate to the Morris Animal Foundation. Since then, I've sold more than $30,000 worth of collars and donated well over $7,000 to the Foundation, not to mention all the collars that I've made and donated. I wouldn't even consider stopping now. It's been an incredible experience. I've gotten more out of this than I've ever given because of the people I've met and talked to.

DDN: Do you still enjoy the work of making Truman Collars?

DF: Yes, I do still enjoy the work. It's in my heart and I haven't lost sight that the whole thing is for Truman and the animals. Truman is giving back to me, which is kind of ironic. He's been gone almost three years and yet he is still helping me deal with his passing by helping me help others. Sometimes it is a little overwhelming to think about.

Debby Fitch lives in Hancock, Maine
with her husband, Terry, and
their four dogs, Brenton the
Leonberger, Mickey the hound
mix, Chase the Springer Spaniel
and Abby, a Bernese mountain
dog who is Truman's half sister.