In September, I wrote about how Karensa Durr and Brandon Hatcher, a design-savvy couple from the New York area, were raising money to produce the Konalu City Lead, a new breed of leash named after their dogs Kona and Lucy.
I loved the design because it features quality hardware and would be a safe alternative to the retractable leash, which longtime readers know is a sore subject with me. (I think retractables are dangerous and you can’t convince me otherwise; end of story!)
Karensa and Brandon needed $5,000 to push their leash prototype into production, and their Indiegogo campaign allowed them to croud-source the funds while letting supporters pre-order the city lead. A few days after our post on the Konalu went live and was shared 762 times on Facebook, the campaign was fully funded and it ended with more than $6,500.
I had hoped that Dogster readers helped make a difference, and when I got my Konalu leash in the mail over the weekend, the designers had left me a nice handwritten message that confirmed it:
Hooray for Dogsters and small business owners! The leash, which I’d ordered in gray, was exactly what I hoped it’d be: expertly crafted with durable hardware, and all the functionality promised — adjustable length without the danger of retractables, and a smart handle that lets you wear it as a belt at the dog park or tether your pup next to you at a cafe.
As a small thanks to you guys for being so awesome, I’m going to put my Konalu City Lead (purchased with money from my own pocket during the fundraising period) up for grabs. These leashes aren’t available anywhere yet, so you’ll be ahead of the pack.
How to win:
If you want my brand-new gray Konalu leash, leave a comment below with your Disqus account telling me why you’d like it. I’ll pick my favorite answer on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at noon PST, and contact that reader via e-mail. If you win, you’ll have two days to get back to me, after which I’ll pick another winner.
Creating a Disqus profile and avatar just takes a minute and is a great way to participate in Dogster’s community of people who are passionate about dogs. Please note that if your Disqus account doesn’t contain a valid email address, you can’t win because we can’t contact you. That stinks! So, pretty please, check your account.
Thanks again, everyone!
