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Two roughhousing pet dogs strangled to death when their collars became ensnared. The bereaved pet parent proceeded to invent a collar that would prevent any other dog's demise in this fashion, and the break-away collar was born.

I discovered this product after receiving a call from a veterinarian in Durango, Colo. who in one month had seen three cases of strangulation or near strangulation involving dogs' collars.

A fire chief from Roanoke, Va. enlightened me to the tragedy that befell his canine family because of tangled collars. I had no idea this was a problem until the calls, letters and e-mails started pouring in.

Break-away collars, now registered under Premier Pet Products, are available in Albuquerque at locally-owned stores such as Clark's Pet Emporium and nationwide at PetSmart and PetCo among others. The break-away collar has consistently been a Premier best seller out of hundreds of pet play, safety and training items the company offers.

One woman's pain has become a safety net for pet parents everywhere.

Greenies were discovered when a family noticed their dog seemed to be unable to properly digest dog treats and biscuits. An upset tummy led to foul breath and decaying teeth.

After numerous tries at creating a treat that was good for a dog's stomach and teeth, the combination was achieved - and Greenies are everywhere. People buy them individually, in small to large pre-packages, and by the box.

When I first interviewed the inventor/owner of Greenies, he dreamed one day he would have small shelf space in PetSmart. Try the whole aisle.

Now comes the Otto Step, from Tim and Debbie Rudzik, based in Oregon.

Otto, their St. Bernard/Newfoundland mix, needed help climbing in and out of the family SUV. The Rudziks needed help with their aching backs.

After investigating the extendible auto ramps made for elderly and ailing dogs available in most pet catalogs, the Rudziks knew they needed something compact for storage, lightweight for lifting and with no assembly required. They wanted it for less than the $200 price tag for most ramps.

Made of special plastic, the Otto Step can easily be attached to a trailer hitch and can hold 200 pounds, yet weighs less than 6 pounds and has a nonskid surface.

It won't take up much space since the step is only 16-by-18 inches and 1 inches in thickness. At $59.95, it's the best investment you can make for your health and your dog's.

My three-legged Sydney is not allowed to jump out of my van or off the bed, sofa etc. She only has one front leg, and if something should happen to it, it would be curtains for her. Loss of back legs can be compensated for with a cart, but to date, (and I've searched) there is nothing for a dog missing both front legs.

So my goal is to minimize any stress caused by jumping from any height.

Syd's a marathon runner at the park, catches a low-thrown ball like an all-star outfielder.

Older dogs with hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, spondylitis, intervertebral disc disease or other ailments would be greatly assisted by Otto Step, as would canines with ligament ruptures or sprains.

Should you be lucky enough to have a pooch that is healthy, keep him or her that way by preventing early wear and tear on bones, joints, ligaments and muscle tissue by allowing them small jumps with less jarring affects on their limbs.

For every need a loved one may have, someone will invest the time and money, blood, sweat and tears to meet that need. The overspill usually benefits us all.

For more information go to OttoStep.com or call toll-free 1-888-311-6886