PRESS RELEASE:10/03/2007
Otto Step for Dogs Announces National Release
Contact: Jack Rubinger
Media Relations
503-788-7325

Now Dog Owners Nationwide can Purchase this Simple Solution to Increase Dog Safety and Reduce Injury Around Trucks and SUVs

PORTLAND OREGON – Otto Step, Inc., has released its innovative Otto Step dog safety product for national distribution -- after successful local testing in the Pacific Northwest. The Otto Step is a compact, durable and easy to use portable platform that assists pets as they get into and out of sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks. Otto Step is simple to use and inserts into a standard 2” trailer hitch receiver. The benefit to dog owners and dogs rests in the potential health advantages to each.
“Most people who have larger dogs and travel with them in vehicles aren't aware of the injuries that may be caused until the dogs get older. SUVs and pickups are approximately 2.5 to 3 feet off the ground and a jump from that height places a great deal of stress on their joints,” explained Tim Reid, DVM, Reid Veterinary Hospital, Albany, Oregon. “There can be a lot of trauma to dogs' joints when jumping down from high places.
“We have many large breeds in our practice that would benefit from this practical device,” continued Reid. “Dogs of any breed may be subject to such conditions as osteoarthritis, spondylitis, hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease as they age. Otto Step makes their climb into these vehicles 50% easier and reduces the jarring (compressions) effect of getting out as well.”
Made in America, Otto Step is compact and lightweight, yet engineered to support dogs weighing anywhere from 40 to over 200 pounds. Weighing only 5.5. pounds, the 18” x 16” Otto Step platform stores easily in the back of vehicles so it can be installed in the trailer hitch only when needed to load or unload a dog.
“When our 170 pound Newfoundland/St. Bernard Otto began struggling with stepping up or down into our SUV, my husband Tim developed a step to help him. When we showed our veterinarian how easy it was for Otto to step into the cargo area of our SUV, he pointed out a double benefit – making it easier for our pet to travel in our vehicle and protecting his joints from the possibility of injuries from jumping down from a height of almost 3 feet,” explained Debra Rudzik, Otto Step, Inc.
Market research indicates that there are 34 million sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and 40 million pick up trucks on the road today and that 42 percent of households include dogs. Otto Step appeals to dog breeders and enthusiasts, hunters, outdoorsmen and families.
“I tested the Otto Step on bigs at a doggie day care in my neighborhood, and the dogs quickly figured it out,” said Deborah Wood, pet columnist with The Oregonian newspaper. “ They were calm as they walked up and down the step into and out of an SUV.”
The Rudzik family have all worked on Otto Step from its inception – from design, testing, logo, labels, passing out fliers and answering phones. Otto Step received the American Pet Association Seal of Approval and comes with a lifetime warranty. Accessories include an extender for pick up trucks And and adapter for 1 ¼” hitch receivers.

Original WEBSITE with video interview with Tim Rudzik

A letter from Tim Reid, DVM
November 2, 2005

Debbie and Tim,

After seeing Otto Step in action I was excited to hear it would soon be available to the general dog-loving public. What a great tool to assist older dogs and to enhance the longevity of younger dogs. We have many large breed dogs in our practice that would benefit from this practical device. Dogs of any breed may be subject to such conditions as osteoarthritis, spondylitis, hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease as they get older. These unfortunate patients have great difficulty climbing stairs alone, not to mention attempting to jump into a truck or SUV. Otto Step makes their climb into such vehicles 50% easier and reduces the jarring (compressions) effect of getting out as well. This will be a great aid in assisting dogs with debilitating conditions as well as preventing healthy dogs from showing premature signs of arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc.

Patients suffering from acute injuries including sprains, strains, ruptured ACL/PCL’s would also benefit from the convenience of Otto Step.

All in all, this is a great tool and one I intend to make available to all my dog owning, SUV/pick-up driving clients.

Sincerely,

Tim Reid, DVM
Reid Veterinary Hospital
Albany, OR

Tuesday, July 3, 2007 By Deborah Wood

A Step Up for Dogs Getting Into A Vehicle

Some days I feel like one of those judges on the TV show “American Inventor”. Every month, I receive boxes of not-so-clever ideas and near-misses that are suppose to help Oregon’s pets.

But every once in a while a product comes along that is simply brilliant.

The Otto step is on of those great ideas. It is a sturdy, nonskid, lightweight platform that slips into the trailer hitch receiver on SUVs and pickup trucks. (A lot of dog people have vans, which usually don’t have hitches; hitches are widely available and aren’t expensive to it on your van.) The dog steps onto the Otto ‘Step and then easily into the back of the SUV; it climbs down the OTTO Step just as easily!

I tested the Otto Step on big dogs at a doggie day care in my neighborhood, and the dogs quickly figured it out. They were calm as they walked up and down the step into and to of an SUV.

The Otto Step will make a huge difference in the life of an older, big dog who struggles getting into a vehicle. It’s also a great idea for a younger dog to make sure its joints are protected throughout its lifetime.

The inventors of this ingenious device are Oregonians Time and Debbie Rudzik of Albany who developed it to help their Saint Bernard mix, Otto. The couple has been manufacturing the product for two years