In August of 2019, Fuji- my fur baby, Omari-my nephew and

I took a trip out of town. Arriving at the hotel and searching

for Fujis' Medications I realized 2 medications were missing.

Upon retracing my steps, I remembered that after turning on

the burglar alarm my phone rang. I rushed out the door,

leaving Fujis' dry eyes and heart failure medications on the

kitchen counter. His other items were placed in my duffel bag-

leash, water container, food, toy, and emotional support papers.

Two hours and $209.00 later leaving the veterinary and arriving

back at the hotel it was as if a light bulb flashed, "Fuji needs his

own luggage". Being a mathematician and knowing how to sew,

I sketched the design that night!

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                                                                           I sat down and created a small animal carrier tote with a                                                                                compartment for pets' necessities and a sleep/travel                                                                                      pillow- 3 for one. But I didn't forget the large dog, thinking                                                                             that no one is carrying a 100 lb. Rot or extra-large Maine                                                                               Coon. I had to create another 3 for one value. Another light                                                                            came on- a snap on spread for the dog's hiding place that                                                                            also unsnaps all the way off for a scarf or full body cover                                                                               up also a regular pillow. Again 3 for 1 price. Nothing like                                                                                them in the country that's why we are the 6th of 6 Patented                                                                            Animal Pillow Beds in the United States.

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When we arrived back in Louisiana, I began the process of getting the animal pillow bed manufactured. The first step was to find a master seamstress to make my patterns, after calling around for weeks I reached someone in another town over an hour away. After multiple trips to her shop, I had patterns. The next step was finding my patent attorney.

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I reached out to a friend of mine, a biophysicist at LSU with many patents. He gave me a name. The next week with the 2 model pillows in hand I met with the patent attorney and Fujis Totes was on the way to a patent.

 

My goal was to manufacture in the United States and refused any manufacturing in China. I called every possible pillow place in the US and finally signed a contract with the Work Release Prison in Baton Rouge. But then the pandemic and by the end of 2020 these nonviolent prisoners were all released.

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My patent process was slowed down to a halt for many months due to Covid-19, Hurricanes in Louisiana- Laura and Delta. But my determination never wavered.

So back to the drawing board again. I was slowed down, but I wasn't giving up. El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras were all contacted through various businesses contacts. Only one pillow was produced in over a year.

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While the search was going on I had sample pillows sewn from

my pattern specifications. An idea came to me to create pillows

in colors including high school, college, and professional ball

teams. We have colors like purple/gold, black/gold, and blue

/gold. Countries, organizations, states, churches. The blue/gold

is also the color for the country of Ukraine. Sorority and fraternity

colors are available with red/white, pink/green, and blue/white. I

am sure we have a color that you desire for your precious fur baby.

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I never relinquished my vision of the finest pillow for pets. In 2022, I was referred to a Pakistan engineer by an associate and today the "Best of the Best animal pillow comes from Pakistan Fujis Totes.

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                                                                           Fuji and Gucci totes shown are over 4 years old and they                                                                              look brand new. They were the first ones sewn in 2019; the                                                                            ones in the pictures with the tote carrier. I wanted a mostly                                                                            handmade, quality, machine washable, no bleed material,                                                                           multifunctional pillow. It's a carrier tote, luggage. and pillow.                                                                            I tested the material and the durability for over 2.5 years.

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It has been a journey of life and learning. People would not believe learning the materials to use, the snaps, the monogramming, the soutache trim every process was specified by me. From 2019 with me scratching a pillow bed tote design, to today we have two beautiful designs of no spill machine washable pillows. One for a small-medium dog- Dimensions 29" L x 22" W x 6" H. The second one for a dog up to 140 pound- Dimensions 41" L x 32" W x 8.5" H.

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Customers asked me why I use this quality because people will only need one the life of their dog and won't buy many. But I wanted the best for my fur baby as you do, and people will tell others believe it will last longer as your fur baby sleeps and travels. Like my slogan

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                                              "ENDLESS LOVE AND ENDLESS COMFORT"

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Fuji took his final breathe in my arms on the way to the emergency room on March 28, 2023. He was small in size but a giant in his spirit. We often said "He had been here before". He walked over a mile the night he passed. This was the second worst day of my life. Losing my mother was the worst.

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This company represents the best of me, Fuji, my new Fuji2, and Gucci. Check out "lifewithfujiandgucci" on Instagram and TikTok.

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I have started a "Leashes of Love" program to collect new and used animal products to be given to shelters and animals in need. We have already sponsored several adoption days, helping animals to find their forever homes. My goal is to not only have a business but an altruistic company in assisting animals in getting the top-quality care that they can have. After all they are our "BEST" friends who give us unconditional LOVE!

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– Dianne, Fuji and Gucci.