Full Name Joseph S. Sporn | Name Joseph Sporn | |
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Born October 31, 1962 ( 1962-10-31 ) Brooklyn, New York, United States Occupation Inventor; founder of Yuppie Puppy Pet Care, Inc.; musician | ||
Joseph S. Sporn is an American inventor, entrepreneur, and musician from New York City. He is the founder of Yuppie Puppy Pet Care, Inc., which was the first dog daycare center in the United States.
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Early career
Sporn began his career working as a dog walker and a technician in a large veterinary hospital. He initially planned to become a veterinarian, but he eventually decided that some aspects of the career were “depressing".
Yuppie Puppy Pet Care, Inc.
Sporn founded Yuppie Puppy Pet Care, Inc. in New York City in 1987. The company got its start when Sporn started providing dog-sitting services in his apartment building. Eventually, he converted his building’s basement into a daycare center for dogs.
Sporn claims that Yuppie Puppy was the first dog daycare center in the United States. When the company started, The New York Times, CNN, and 20/20 covered its launch.
Since its founding, Yuppie Puppy Pet Care, Inc. has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise that offers other dog-related products and services.
Patented products
Sporn holds several patents for specialized dog leashes and harnesses; disposable pet rain gear; aquarium accessories; storage; and grooming supplies.
In the late 1990s, Sporn invented the Sporn No-Pull Harness, a dog harness designed for large-breed dogs and dogs that pull or lunge. In addition to his pet-related patents, Sporn also holds patents for a wrist-borne radiotelephone set and a swim training harness.
In 1999, Sporn founded The Sporn Company, which is centered around the sale of his no-pull halter.
Martha Stewart licenses Sporn's products, including a number of dog-control harnesses. Products are branded "Martha Stewart by Sporn" and the packaging is labeled "Invented and designed by Joseph Sporn."
Toys "R" Us also offers two Sporn products under the Toys "R" Us For Pets packaging.
In May 2014, Sporn's No-Jump Harness became available in PetSmart stores and on its website. Commissioned by PetSmart, the harness is sold under the name "Top Paw by Sporn." The harness helps halt a dog's jumping-up behavior without exerting pressure on the larynx or trachea.
In October 2014, the Sporn Company was contracted by the Kong brand to design, produce, and manufacture Kong products for PetSmart.
Sporn also has designed and produced over 100 reptile and fish products for PetSmart under a license from National Geographic. Products include backgrounds for fish and reptile aquariums using three-dimensional National Geographic images in dioramas.