A recent ASTM International article explores progress on standards work to support the safety of the pets living in 94 million households across the U.S.

Brian Grochal, director of safety and quality at BARK, shares insights on recent efforts to support pet safety through standardization, with specifications guiding everything from dog harnesses for motor vehicle safety, to animal crates and kennels, to cat trees. 

Even something that seems simple, like a dog toy, can present risks to furry friends.

“Dogs have instincts to destroy toys,” Grochul explains, “and some of them have instincts to ingest the material afterward. That can create ingestion and choking incidents where it gets stuck in the intestines and causes severe injuries. That’s why we need strict safety standards: to ensure toys fail in safer, more controlled ways.”

Grochal emphasizes the importance of having all stakeholders at the table during standards development: “I think having all those different perspectives is what builds the best standards.”

Access the full article, “Standards Help Protect Our Pets,” on ASTM International’s website.