Our Story
K9 Mask® by Good Air Team
Kirby Holmes started K9 Mask® by Good Air Team because he was concerned about the growing variety of air quality problems and their impact on dogs' health.
Kirby grew traveling from Texas to Southern California to visit his grandparents during the summer. As a kid he was frightened by the stories of wildfire flames snarling around his grandparent's home and firefighters battling the blazes to protect lives and property. He dreaded the thought of something happening to his grandparents or their black lab, Sugar.
Walking Dogs During Wildfires
In 2018 Kirby was watching a San Francisco Giants baseball game on TV and noticed fans wearing air filter masks in the stadium to protect themselves from wildfire smoke. This was during the devastating Camp Fire near Paradise, California which killed close to 100 people and stranded 100+ pets.
It occurred to Kirby that if people need to wear an air filter mask in wildfire smoke then what about dogs? Dogs need to go outside for short bathroom breaks to stretch their legs during wildfire season, but how do dogs stay protected from breathing in toxic smoke?
In his search for answers he discovered there were no air filter masks for dogs to protect them from the short and long-term health consequences of inhaling damaging particles from smoke.
Inspired by the success of human face masks in reducing exposure to toxic air quality, Kirby decided to create a mask designed specifically for dogs. His goal is to provide a solution for animal lovers who want to protect their pets' health in any air quality crisis.
Smoke from the Thomas Fire rises above Ojai, California. Photo by Stephanie O’Neill
Northern California wildfires creating ash, soot, and toxic particles in 2020.
Starting a Family Business
Kirby invited his cousin, Evan Daugherty, to join him on the Good Air Team to begin solving the problem of poor air quality for pets. Together they spent months developing prototypes and doing product testing. At the beginning of 2019 they completed a design for the world's first air filter mask for dogs. They fully funded a Kickstarter Campaign in March of 2019 to begin production of K9 Mask®.
High Capacity Team for Solutions
Kirby and Evan are both Texas natives and long-time Austin residents. Kirby attended Texas Tech University and Evan attended Texas State University.
Evan is a veteran product designer who works at Dell Technologies with experience in digital media and technology UX (User Experience).
Kirby is a global leader serving in local and in international non-profit organizations with experience start up technology companies managing manufacturer sales representatives. Together they form a team with high capacity and people-focused solutions, especially people with pets.
Innovative Air Filter Solutions for Dogs
The goal is to empower pet owners to protect the short and long-term health of dogs with innovative air filter solutions. K9 Mask® protects dogs in wildfire smoke, dust storms, volcanic ash, tear gas, chemical spills, red tide brevetoxins, pollinating vegetation, allergies, bacteria, mold, and fungus.
Dogs Breathing Better and Living Healthier Lives
K9 Mask® by Good Air Team seeks to make the world a place where your pets can live happier and healthier lives by breathing better air.
