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Our Pawprint
We understand that responsible innovation means making decisions with the highest regard for people, pets, and the planet.
We're proud to be a member of the B Corp community.
A B Corp is a business that has been independently certified to meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance. Certification is carried out by the nonprofit B Labs, who evaluates corporations based on five main areas:
- Environmental impact
- Impact on employees
- Community impact
- Company governance
- Customer stewardship
Certification lasts for three years, and companies must be fully reassessed against the same strict standards in order to qualify for recertification.
K9 Ballistics was originally certified in 2021, and was recertified in 2024.
Becoming certified as a B Corp doesn't just mean that we are dedicated to find a better balance between purpose and profit—it also means that we're honest about our efforts.
Greenwashing is an all too common practice for companies these days, with big corporations making even bigger claims they don't bother backing up. Achieving B Corp certification is a lot of work, but it's worth it to show that we're putting our money where our mouth is and validating our positive impact. It also means being held accountable for everything we say and do. Plus, the certification process serves to highlight areas that we can improve upon in the future.
With our latest certification (completed in 2024), K9 Ballistics earned a score of 85.2, according to the following breakdown of impact areas:
- Environment - 27.2
- Workers - 22
- Community - 17.2
- Governance - 15.5
- Customers - 3.1
K9 Ballistics originally scored an 82 when first certified in 2021. The median score for ordinary businesses that complete the assessment is 50.9
Benefiting Our Planet
With a focus on sustainability and reducing waste, K9 Ballistics is committed to minimizing any harmful impacts our operations have on the environment.
The average dog bed—the kind you find sitting on shelves at your local pet store or grocery store—are made from flimsy materials, using fast and underpaid labor. They'll probably last about a year at most, and many will start to wear out and lose support well before then. If you've got a destructive dog, that bed might be lucky to last a week.
Beds like these inevitably end their short lives in landfills, contributing to pollution both through the trash they become, along with the wasted energy, materials, and fuel that go into their production and distribution. They may seem cheap to replace at first, but over time, all that money and waste add up. As it turns out, those low price tags often hide some very steep costs to both you and the environment.
K9 Ballistics approaches production with a very different ethos, prioritizing quality and durability over quantity and cutting corners. We invest in the best materials and strongest construction to ensure our products actually last. After all, these are items your dog is meant to use and enjoy their entire life!
Our products are defined by their ability to withstand everything from daily wear and tear to heavy use and destructive behaviors. They're easy to clean, too, whether that's in a washing machine or spot-cleaning with a damp towel. There's no need to replace one of our beds when a quick wipe down is all that's needed to keep it looking good as new.
Resilient to the elements, frequent use, and repeated washings, our beds and gear are intended to be anything but disposable.
Wherever possible, we incorporate recycled materials into our products. The polyester fiberfill that we use in some of our beds and accessories—such as our Tough Ripstop Crate Pad and California Grizzly Bear toy—is made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles. Through these products, over 8 million plastic bottles have been recycled so far.
The packaging for our products, including the shipping boxes, is made with up to 40% recycled content. We also strive for zero waste with our foam mattress production—after cutting up the foam to make our orthopedic beds, we shred the leftovers and use those to fill our softer, pillow-style bed mattresses. We don't throw any of it away, which helps us keep more than 50% of our waste out of landfills.
To protect the health and safety of your pets and family, we take great care in using only non-toxic ingredients for our products. Our bed mattresses are made from foam manufactured right here in California, certified by CertiPUR-US to meet their rigorous standards for emissions, content, and durability.
CertiPUR-US certified foam is made without such hazardous substances as formaldehyde, ozone depleters, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals, and is screened for those classified as carcinogens, mutagens, and other harmful toxins. We use PU as a backing to protect the foam from moisture, which is a more environmentally friendly option over alternatives like PVC or PTFE.
We also use aluminum for the metal of the frame of our Chew Proof Armored beds. Aluminum is one of the few materials that is infinitely recyclable and cheaper to recycle than it is to produce. At the end of their lifespan, our armored beds can be easily broken down and recycled by the consumer.
Though we ask for returns to be sent back to us in new and unused condition, we understand that it isn't always obvious upon arrival if a bed will work for a particular pup. Sometimes the bed needs to be tried out once or twice, and sometimes the beds may accumulate gentle signs of use in the process. While these returns can't be restocked as new products, this isn't the end of the road for them, either.
We thoroughly inspect every item that comes back to us, and those that remain in like-new condition with only minor marks or blemishes are sold at a steep discount as an "Open Box" item so that they can find a new home. Our orthopedic and pillow beds are disassembled into their components and reincorporated into our production line. Items that show signs of heavier use can still be donated to our local shelters and rescues. This allows us to ensure very little gets wasted or thrown out.
Water and energy usage is an important consideration for all corporations, but especially for those based in Southern California. In order to help limit our impact in these areas, we've installed drought-resistant landscaping, efficient thermostats, recycling bins, and replaced all lighting with LEDs. Motion detectors on light fixtures shut lights off when they’re not in use, while skylights in the warehouse let in natural light. This allows us to save electricity and create a more pleasant work environment at the same time.
We've also added EV charging stations that are free to use for any employees with electric vehicles, promoting a switch from gasoline-powered cars and reducing the financial burden of commuting.
Making targeted investments in our energy efficiency has helped us cut energy usage and reduce our carbon footprint.
Benefiting Our Communities
Beyond our impact on the environment, K9 Ballistics is equally concerned with leveraging our expertise to positively affect pet communities both locally and across the globe.
Founded in 1996 and based nearby in Santa Paula, California, the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to strengthen America's disaster response by training up search and rescue dogs for fire departments all across the country, free of charge.
The dogs they take in are rescued from abuse or abandonment, with too much energy and drive to settle in as a family pet—in other words, dogs that might not have made it out of a shelter under normal circumstances. These rescues become rescuers, going on to save countless lives with the training SDF provides them.
We're proud to help along their mission by donating some of our Chew Proof Armored beds to them. These are our toughest beds, ideal for both training purposes (they work well for such commands as "Place") and for standing up to the heavy chewing and digging these energetic dogs like to engage in.
Similar to Search Dog Foundation, Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canine (GDA|TLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the care and training of working dogs. Their mission is to transform and empower the lives of blind individuals, as well as veterans and children with autism, by partnering them with expertly raised guide and service dogs.
For over 70 years, GDA|TLC has handled the breeding, raising, and training of these special dogs, and they continue to provide support even after graduation. All of these services are provided free of charge for the eventual recipients, and GDA|TLC relies on donations and volunteers to keep their program running smoothly.
Not only have we regularly donated beds to their cause, but we also provide support in the form of puppy raiser care bags ($40k value) free of charge to the volunteers responsible for socializing and raising puppies for the first year of their life. These bags contain all the essential gear and accessories a puppy raiser needs to properly start their foster pup's training journey. We've also raised funds for GDA|TLC directly through the sale of our California Grizzly Bear Toy.
Akagera National Park, located in eastern Rwanda, is home to a wide array of wildlife, including mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, lions, zebras, giraffes, and antelope. The park is a protected refuge for the animals that live there, and hunting them is illegal. However, poaching remains a problem.
To ensure the safety of the wildlife, the park rangers there run a Canine Anti-Poaching Unit to track down and guard against poachers. On their own, these rangers have little chance of being effective, but with the aid of their dogs they have managed to almost completely eliminate poaching in the park. Unfortunately, due to limited resources, these dogs were left to sleep on wooden pallets in their kennels when off duty.
K9 Ballistics was happy to step in and donate all the beds they needed to them, completely free of charge. Now these brave pups have our sturdy Chew Proof Armored Vinyl Dog Beds to relax on after a hard day of work.
Animal shelters often operate with razor-thin budgets, relying heavily on donations just to get by. They don't always have the capacity to replace bedding every time it gets damaged, which is an all too common occurrence when caring for stressed or anxious pups. K9 Ballistics has been happy to step in, donating over tens of thousands of dollars worth of durable dog beds to shelter pups in need. Recipients of our donations include the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, Shelter Hope Pet Shop, and Camarillo Animal Shelter.
Working dogs can also be hard on their beds, given their high drive and energy levels. These qualities are necessary for them to perform their jobs, but can lead to destructive behaviors on their off hours. Police, firefighters, and other first responders often struggle to find bedding that is both comfortable and sturdy enough to withstand the habits of their canine companions. To help out, we've donated a number of armored beds to both the Oxnard Police K9 Unit and Ventura County Firefighters.
We also offer a standing discount to veterans, active-duty military members, and first responders nationwide through GovX.
Benefiting Our People
We're proud to foster a work environment where every contribution matters. After all, it’s our people who make the difference.
A fair and equal workplace is critical for any company's success. K9 Ballistics is focused on offering its employees the best opportunities and benefits to ensure the health and happiness of every member of the team.
To promote new and different perspectives, we maintain a 50:50 ratio of male to female leadership. Employees enjoy such perks as a starting wage of $18/hr, with regular raises dependent on performance, generous paid time off, a 401(k) plan, and 75% of health insurance premiums covered by the company.
K9 Ballistics also offers a variety of programs, including those for wellness with subsidized gym membership, continuing education for those looking to improve or gain new skills, and paid volunteer time to help out local charities and nonprofits in the area. We also keep a close eye on our supply chain to make sure that our products are produced under safe, fair, legal, and humane working conditions.
Energy Use Disclosure
K9 Ballistics, Inc. sources energy from Southern California Edison (SCE). The utility's delivered power mix is 48% carbon-free, including 34% from solar, geothermal, and small hydro sources. SCE also has 5.5% geothermal, 15.1% solar, 9.4% wind, 15.2% natural gas, and 8.4% nuclear power. SCE has set a goal of 50% of its power coming from renewable sources by 2030, and 100% carbon-free power by 2045.
K9 Ballistics' Energy and Emissions Intensive Industry Disclosure: Access Document