History

Our business actually started in spring of 1999, on a warm spring day we went for a walk into the awakening of nature. The snow started to thaw and there was this big mess everywhere on the ground. Dog waste had accumulated over the winter months and was littering the ground. The solution was easy. In our previous country, Switzerland, dog waste disposal units in parks and on street corners have been popular for over twenty years.

Henry, Esther and Fred (the beagle) immigrated to Canada in 1998 and were used to bag dispensers in parks and public places. Such a product was not prevalent in Canada. After inquiring about dispensers in his local community Henry quickly realized a market opportunity and a critical need.

Taking inspiration from the pet waste disposal systems in Switzerland, he developed and patented a Canadian product. This patented design has since found its way back into use in Europe.

In Canada, since the first sale, to the city of Burlington, in September of 2000 the Practica solution is now available and installed in every Canadian Province and Territory.

Our Vision

To create an opportunity for all public spaces across our beautiful country to be clean, healthy and safe places to walk, play and relax. We can help make this happen with the Practica solution.

Company Mission Statement

Practica - an important contributor in providing a cleaner and healthier environment.
We provide a complete solution that is easy to use and maintained year round.

We strive to be the Canadian leader in dog waste management.

Fred the Beagle - May 26, 1996 to February 16, 2005

Our company was founded because of Fred our Beagle. When we moved with him to Canada we could not find any pick-up bags along the paths of our daily walks. We started to manufacture the bags, dispensers and waste bins and used Fred’s image as our logo.

Fred lived the first 2 years his dog life mischievously to the fullest. He chewed shoes, carpets, purses, jackets and a leather chesterfield to pieces. Loved people and always got up on them, dirtied pants and nylons. He hated to be left alone and barked until he had company again. He scratched doors and frames until they had to be replaced. His daily goal as soon as he was up was to find something edible. Fred ate whatever he could put his teeth in and did not care if it was food, garden gnomes or dolls. We went to puppy school and were always last because he, a very strong minded pup, did what he wanted and would sit still like a donkey until everybody gave up on him. He loved being in Canada. He had his own trees and huge backyard and with the invisible fencing he was free to roam the grounds. Soon he got a companion to play and have fun with, another beagle named Oscar from the SPCA.

Unfortunately his life was cut short. He became paralyzed, and although he had a successful operation, too much damage was done to his spine, and he died at the Guelph Animal Hospital, surrounded by his beloved “nurse”, his surgeon and us very peacefully at the age of nearly nine years. He will live on, on all our products, logo and letterheads and as one of the “founders” of our company. He was THE BEST!