We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Connor Abdo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Connor, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Animal shelters are filled with dogs who desperately need care, love, and companionship. When I started working with shelter dogs, I thought I was simply offering my time, but soon I realized that these dogs were transforming me just as much as I was helping them. Each wagging tail and hopeful gaze ignited a sense of fulfillment and belonging within me. Helping these vulnerable animals gave me a deeper understanding of empathy, patience, and the power of kindness. It became clear that my purpose was not only to improve their lives but to advocate for those who couldn’t speak for themselves, creating a positive impact one dog at a time. These shelters are often underfunded and overcrowded. I knew I wanted to create a business that could help raise money for animal shelters all over the world by selling dog products.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I created the brand Salvation Bark in 2022 as a way to raise money for shelter dogs around the country. What sets Salvation Bark apart from other dog product brands is our motto: “A brand created for all dogs, to support dogs in need.” When you think of mainstream American dogs like the Golden Retriever, Doodles, and Frenchies, you don’t often associate them with the dogs you find in an animal shelter. I wanted to bridge the gap between privileged dogs and less fortunate ones. Salvation Bark is a brand where privileged dogs can wear our products and help support those stuck in shelters or rescue organizations. We achieve this by donating 50% of the profits from every order to a shelter or rescue organization we partner with. The most challenging part has been getting the brand name out there. There are a lot of dog product brands. But, there are none that share the same mission and business model as ours.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Perseverance – I started this journey when there were still a lot of supply chain issues happening from Covid. We ran into a lot of issues when it came to designing and producing our first round of products. There were many times when I questioned whether it was worth it or not to proceed.
Compassion- Throughout this process my passion for helping dogs in need has grown and really motivated me to continue with the brand.
Patience- Many of these dogs had been through difficult experiences, and progress was often slow. Patience became crucial, both with the animals and myself. I learned that trust and healing take time, and that every small step forward is a victory. For those just starting, it’s important to not expect immediate changes or results. Growth happens over time. This is true for a business and in an animal shelter.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We are always looking for dog lovers to collaborate with. Through the brand we have met some amazing people. Our favorites are “dogluencers” on Instagram and TikTok. They have done an amazing job to help us spread the word about our journey and mission to help shelter dogs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.salvationbark.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesalvationbark
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesalvationbark
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