The inspiration for the creation of the first Dog Memory House was Pepper, found by the artist Joni Carr and her two children when just a puppy of a few weeks. He was  emaciated, dehydrated and near death. Pepper came to Joni and her family exactly one week after their previous dog, Maggie ( a rescued Irish Setter), had suddenly died from onset diabetes.  Pepper was a mixed breed of Queensland Heeler and German Shorthaired. When no one claimed him, Joni lovingly raised him and he was the best dog anyone could have for 14 years. He got a tumor on his jaw, and when the pain got so bad that he couldn't eat without pain, Joni and her husband made the difficult decision to euthanize him. Pepper was cremated, and Joni was somewhat horrified when his cremains were given to her in what was essentially a cardboard box.

A stained glass artisan, Joni came up with the idea to create a simulated dog house made out of stained glass. Upon seeing Pepper's Memory Dog House, many friends asked Joni to make one for them or for one of their friends, and encouraged her to make the product available to the world of pet lovers.

A portion of every sale we make is donated to charities that help to protect and rescue pets.