A Pittsburgh-based pet company, Pup O’Clock, is innovating in the realm of children’s education, pet ownership, and community giving. Founded by Brian Manni, this startup aims to strengthen the bond between kids and their dogs through themed subscription boxes.
These boxes, offered monthly, are designed to teach children responsibility through hands-on activities focused on caring for their pets. The inspiration came from a post-COVID-19 trend where many families faced challenges after adopting dogs.
I wanted to give kids a tool to adopt responsibility at that particular age. And again, what better way than through dog ownership? It helps them build consistency, discipline, self-sacrifice, and patience, all the things where you’ll find meaning in life long term.
The company’s mission reflects Manni’s own recovery journey. The business model includes giving back to programs like Autism Pittsburgh and Joey’s PAW, with proceeds also supporting animal shelters and human-animal bond organizations.
I started this company and it paralleled my sobriety journey. We wanted this to be a total community approach. We’re giving back not only to shelters but also special needs organizations. We work locally with Autism Pittsburgh.
Each subscription box includes educational content, activities, recipes, dog enrichment tools, treats, and collectibles. Lessons are crafted with input from veterinary and pet professionals to help children understand pet needs and build life skills.
Pup O’Clock has also partnered with Point Park University to involve students and graduates in animation, tech, web development, and creative arts. This collaboration supports the company’s animated series, “League of Pups.”
The company launched its 2.0 Kickstarter campaign on Oct. 15, running until Nov. 15. The campaign aims to expand the subscription program, create student opportunities, and support Pittsburgh community organizations.