Petcamper.com
Ever since I can remember, I have been addicted to the great outdoors . . . and ever since I can remember, we have dragged our dogs along with us. Camping, boating, or even just an hour hike, my dogs go everywhere I go. As a little boy, I would go camping with my Boy Scout group—camping in tents, dogs right up alongside me keeping me warm. Today, we camp in virtual luxury in our trailer, but the dogs are still there.

I love the expressions on their faces when you take them off their leashes and let them roam free in a forest or desert, or when they dive into the lake with complete abandon—-with all the scents and freedom, the same experiences their ancestors had. We love watching them turn half wild chasing down a squirrel or blackbird. On a recent trip to the Inyo National Forest, my wife let our dogs out one morning. They took off running after God knows what, and were out of sight in seconds. Oh God, now what? She ran back inside the trailer and grabbed the keys to our Rhino. She fired it up and drove off in the direction the dogs ran. Of course, the dogs weren’t lost. I walked out of the trailer just as she drove off, the dogs in hot pursuit coming from the other direction, following her down the fire road. They were just out of our sight, but were not out of their ear shot. A good dog’s loyalty is an amazing thing. Well, the dogs got scolded after that. You wouldn’t think they understood, but they did. The rest of the trip, they never left our eyesight. Good dogs! The rest of the trip was uneventful from their perspective. Lots of good walks, scraps from the BBQ, and a long drive home.

So, where am I going with this? Traveling with pets is never easy: Small dogs have small bladders . . . lots of bathroom breaks; keeping all their food in containers; keeping them, and other animals out of their food containers! Hot days equal hot dogs, and the same with cold days--cold dogs. Keeping them safe while having fun is a balancing act, sometimes. In comparison, it’s easy to keep myself and my family safe and having fun. Cars and trucks are designed for humans. Trailers have beds, tents have cots and sleeping bags. Now, here’s the catch: If I need something to go into the great outdoors, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of stores and Web sites dedicated to the human adventurer. But where’s the love for my four-legged friends? Sure, there are pet stores, both online and storefront--but to date, no dedicated shop for your pet’s outdoor needs--until now. I saw the need--no, experienced the need for a dedicated outdoor adventure shop for pets: Welcome the birth of PetCamper.com. I started the site a little less than a year ago, collecting products from vendors and manufacturers that filled the outdoor and recreation niche for animals. I’m always looking for new products, new ideas. So, please visit us, and if you produce or know of any outdoor or recreational products for animals, please let us know and we’ll work to incorporate them into our site! www.petcamper.com

-Aaron Wilson