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STORY BY KIM FORTSON WITH ALLISON JANDA
APR/MAY PET CARE
invisible fence of the heartland ®
more than••••••••••••••••• meets the eye
EXPANDING BOUNDARIES, NOT MERELY CREATING THEM VIRTUALLY EVERYONE KNOWS INVISIBLE FENCE™ IS FAMOUS FOR INVENTING AN INVISIBLE BOUNDARY SYSTEM TO ASSIST OWNERS IN MANAGING THEIR PETS, BUT THEIR TRUE MISSION LIES NOT IN CREATING BARRIERS, BUT ELIMINATING THEM – LIBERATING BOTH PETS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. Owning a pet means entering into a relationship that involves stewardship of that pet’s welfare and best interests. One of the more challenging aspects of that stewardship – even threatening for some – is training and discipline. Yet for over 40 years, the Invisible Fence® brand has served as a training and mentoring resource for owners and their pets. As with any new relationship, there is a time of adjustment and of learning, a harmony of small triumphs and setbacks as the pet slowly becomes accustomed to the rhythm of family life. Most commonly known for its containment system, which keeps pets in a specific area such as a backyard, Invisible Fence® offers a host of evolving technological and training services that keep it on the cutting edge–many of which owners are unaware. CUSTOMIZED SERVICE Perhaps the most significant feature overlooked is the company’s customizable approach. Invisible Fence® can be tailored to the needs of multiple pets simultaneously, hosting a unique set of rules for each pet. “It’s the only system in the world that has different rules for different pets,” said Brett Fickler, co-owner of Invisible Fence® of the Heartland. Fickler, who began as a salesperson for the company when it arrived in Nebraska 28 years ago, works with co-owner Allen Meyers and a small, passionate team of employees to install the service throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. 32 | pet & ANIMAL enthusiast
only system in the world that has “It’s thedifferent rules for different pets.… We are constantly improving, constantly evolving. That will never stop.
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~ brett fickler cO-OWNER OF INvISIBlE FENcE® OF THE HEARTlAND
ATTENTION TO DETAIL Members of the team personally install each system (which can be set up both inside and outside of the home), taking the time to teach owners how it works. In addition, the team member provides all of the training for the pet. “Everything is designed for the health and benefit of the pet,” Fickler said. DON’T CHEAT THE SYSTEM Fickler is concerned by the common misconception that the Invisible Fence® doesn’t really work consistently. Unlike many pet containment products, pets cannot escape Invisible Fence® by running through it–a pet’s collar activates at the front edge of the containment zone, correcting the behavior immediately and shutting off when the pet comes back into the designated “safe area.”
BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES Further cementing its prominence, Invisible Fence® provides services beyond the defensive qualities of its containment system–its additional offerings actually train pets proactively. Owners can choose to enact the company’s Shield’s® Avoidance System, which teaches pets to abstain from poor behaviors like eating another pet’s meal or sleeping on the couch when owners are away at work. They also can purchase pet door installation and high tech features like bark control technology and lifestyle products that include automatic pet feeders and toys designed to assist in both overall training and brain development.
Fickler and Allen are careful to keep ahead of trends, allocating funds each year toward the growth of their product to ensure that even as the company reaches middle age, Invisible Fence® will continue He assures customers that the product to stay relevant. comes with a 100 percent guarantee, and “We can’t really go six months without stresses that when choosing a pet containment system to avoid buying look- something changing” Fickler said. a-like products online or at local pet stores. That’s welcome news for area pet owners.