May 20, 2004 (Bend, Ore.) - From Central Park to the central Rockies, it’s all cheers and barks for Ruff Wear, the leading source of Gear For Dogs On The Go®. This year marks 10 years of quality, innovation and growth. The company is celebrating with the construction of a new environmentally-friendly, dog-friendly office and warehouse with plenty of space for canines and their humans to romp and play.

This anniversary celebrates 10 years of unparalleled success for Ruff Wear: the company’s net sales have grown by 80% in the past 3 years in the U.S. and international markets. Originally designed to meet the needs of our four-legged friends in the great outdoors, Ruff Wear has extended its customer base to include specialty pet markets. The company continues to expand its product line, offering new leashes, collars, dog beds and improved packs for 2004. Excited to support and maintain this developing infrastructure, Ruff Wear is breaking ground on a new combined officeand warehouse.

In an effort to stick to its roots of corporate responsibility, Ruff Wear will adhere to planning strategies for environmentally conscious construction. The building will be located in NorthWest Crossing, a new, mixed-use development that aims to preserve the traditional and local design principles of the Bend, Oregon community.

The new Ruff Wear doghouse will use recyclable and reusable building materials such as steel beams for structural components and cement/cellulous siding in place of lumber. The building will utilize a passive solar design and will have increased insulation in the roof and walls making it more energy-efficient than required by local building codes. An east/west orientation, engineered roof eaves and the Low-E energy-efficient windows and doors will ensure that the warehouse maintains its heat in the winter and stays cool in the summer with a minimum use of purchased energy.

Ruff Wear will also utilize simple solutions to increase the environmental-friendliness of the building. Concrete floors will act as a heat sink to moderate the temperatures inside the building and can be swept clean, avoiding harsh cleaning solutions. An air exchange system and a bright, sunlit workspace will provide the Ruff Wear team with a healthy and friendly work environment. Employees and their four-legged companions will be able to bike or walk to work at the company’s new central location. Built to facilitate easy expansion and growth, Ruff Wear has taken into consideration the future needs of the company.

Most importantly, the new building will be dog friendly. The new warehouse and office space will occupy only one-third of a one-acre lot, offering plenty of natural play room for dogs and their humans. The lot’s natural environment has been maintained to provide plenty of space for canines to romp, play and test new products in the sagebrush and juniper of Bend’s high desert. The new warehouse and office will serve as a strong foundation for Ruff Wear’s continued canine innovations. “The new building will enable us to take our company values to the next level,” said Ruff Wear Owner and Founder Patrick Kruse. “While we spend a great deal of time and technology developing the best gear we can, in the end, it’s all about people and dogs enjoying each other.”

Ruff Wear, For Dogs On The Go®, is the maker of the original collapsible water & food dog bowls, dog packs, dog boots, dog toys, overcoats, canine life jackets, first aid kits, travel bags, training and grooming supplies and gear for dogs of every description - from family companions to working dogs. Based in Bend, Oregon, Ruff Wear sells its products through specialty pet and outdoor retailers, for more information please contact www.ruffwear.com.