Austin and Melissa Vandeven of Barnhart have started an unusual business called 321Fetch, which not only uses old firehose to produce sturdy chew toys for dogs, but also offers job training to the Vandevens’ daughter, Amelia, who has Down syndrome.
The Vandevens donate 21 percent of the money from the dog toy sale proceeds to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis and then puts the rest in a savings account to help care for Amelia when she’s older.
Austin, 45, and Amelia, 8, do most of the company’s production work, but Melissa, 42, and the Vandevens’ other daughter, Maddy, 13, help occasionally.
Austin said he had been thinking for some time about starting the business, but officially got it up and running in January.
“Amelia and I made the first batch when the COVID-19 pandemic hit,” he said.
Austin said Maddy plays sports, and he and Amelia often attended her games, but with a lot of those activities canceled or limited to very few spectators, it was the perfect time to start making the dog toys.
“They (Austin and Maddy) weren’t able to go to the matches or anything because of COVID, so Austin and Amelia had a lot more free time on their hands,” Melissa said. “That’s when he was able to actually sort of put things in action.”
“(The first batch) went to family and friends for them to test,” Austin said.
He said the toys were a hit, but a few tore open, so they began using more stitching to improve the product.
Austin said he and Amelia had their first sale on Feb. 28.
The dog toys, which are about 12 inches long, are shaped like a burrito, cost $15 each and can be picked up at the family Barnhart home, although some local delivery is offered.
They also may be shipped for an additional cost.
So far, the family has sold 300 toys, Austin said.
After the cost of materials and the donation to the Down Syndrome Association, the profit from the sale of each toy, which is about $9, goes into the savings account for Amelia, Austin said.
He said Maddy is paid out of his pocket for any work she does for the business.
Austin said he got the idea for the business after purchasing toys for their own dogs, a Chihuahua mix named Ziggy, 3, and a Vizsla named Louie, 4.
“I bought a toy for our oldest dog and it looked like a firehose and it lasted a whole 30 minutes,” he said. “The idea of using real firehose came about.”
Austin said the name of the company was easy to come up with.
“Down syndrome is three copies of chromosome 21 and the fetch is because it’s dog toys,” he said.
Giving back
Austin said the business also allows the family to give back to the Down Syndrome Association, which has offered the Vandeven family invaluable help.
He said he and his wife didn’t know Amelia had Down syndrome until after she was born, and the association immediately stepped up and offered assistance.
“The Down Syndrome Association came in and they gave us a bunch of information and had a new mothers breakfast,” he said. “They would throw activities through the year and they just helped a lot.”
Austin said the business made its first donation to the association in June, giving them $603.21, and the family has another $919.05 ready to donate.
“They did a lot for us and I figure this is a little thing we could do,” Melissa said.
Abigail Beckord, community engagement and volunteer manager with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, said she thinks the Vandevens have created a smart business, as well as a great way to help both Amelia and the association.
“Firstly, they’ve created a product people want,” she said. “They have also figured out a way to make a product that is environmentally friendly by recycling the old firehoses. They’ve created an opportunity for their daughter, Amelia, who has Down syndrome to learn new skills she can take with her throughout her life, and they’re also supporting the Down Syndrome Association through their giveback program.”
Beckord said the number 21 is a “celebrated number,” and it’s unique for a company to donate 21 percent of its profits.
She said the donation from 321Fetch will help keep programs running.
“It’s really, really important for us to continue to have the support of the community so we can continue to run these programs, like the new family support, the ongoing family support, in-office programs we have for all ages,” she said.
Beckord said her own dogs are big fans of 321Fetch.
“I have two big dogs that love to chew,” she said. “They’re really loving the product.”
The Vandeven family also has donated 100 of their toys to Stray Rescue in St. Louis.
Making the toys
Before starting the business, Austin reached out to a firefighter friend, who got him his first batch of old firehose. Since then, Austin has solicited donations of firehose from agencies all over the St. Louis area, including from the Rock Community Fire Protection District.
He said he has purchased some of the hose for a low price, but most is donated.
Austin said he cuts the hose into pieces and washes the pieces at a laundromat.
“(Melissa is) not going to let me use the washer here,” he said. “Plus, I can put a lot more in there. I’m sure I get some strange looks when I go to the laundromat.”
After the pieces dry, frayed edges are cut off and each piece of hose for a toy is stamped with a logo, and then the piece is ironed, Austin said.
He then sews one end closed, and then Amelia takes over. She places a squeaker in each toy and stuffs it with material like what goes in pillows.
Amelia said she likes to test each squeaker before placing it inside a toy. She also said she uses a gold, sparkly stick to shove the stuffing inside the toys.
“Then it’s my turn again to stitch them back up and then Amelia puts the sticker on them,” Austin said.
He said he has Amelia practice her handwriting by writing names on the packages to be picked up or delivered.
Austin said he sews most of the toys by hand.
“It takes a little time, but they seem to hold up better,” he said.
However, sometimes he uses a 1948 Singer 15-91 sewing machine.
“I did get a lot of laughs from everyone when I brought that antique home,” he said. “I knew nothing about sewing, but thanks to YouTube and manuals, I learned the basics.”
Austin and Melissa said Amelia’s work on the toys helps her improve her fine motor skills.
“I was looking for something where she can learn a skill to prepare for later in life,” Austin said. “She takes direction really well.”
Amelia is a third-grader at Point Elementary and Maddy attends Oakville Middle School, both in the Mehlville School District, where Melissa teaches.
Austin works for the U.S. Postal Service.
The toys can be purchased by messaging the Vandevens on the 321Fetch Facebook page.