LitterHouse Paper

Local inventor to appear on Dragon’s Den Tuesday September 23 2008
By KAREN MARTIN-ROBBINS For The Banner

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A local inventor will be seen pitching his product to the “dragons” on the season premier of the CBC’s Dragon’s Den Sept. 29.“It was a pretty nerve-wracking experience,” recalls Dan Dykens, the inventor of The Litterhouse, a house-shaped litter box for cats. “They ask you about a million questions. It was quite a gruelling process.”Dragon’s Den is a reality show where entrepreneurs pitch their business concepts and products to a panel of Canadian business moguls who have cash to “make a deal.”Dykens went on the show with his business partner, Rob English, asking the moguls for marketing money. Dykens came up with the idea for a decorative litter box about 10 years ago when he was moving into an apartment with his cat, Sox.“Most people put their litter box in their basement so it’s out of sight. I didn’t have room in the apartment, so I needed a box I could put in my living room,” Dykens says.The former law enforcement officer came up with the idea of covering the litter box with a lid in the shape of a house.With the help of his sister, Barb Bruce, who has a business background, Dykens spent the next few years trying to patent his invention and get a prototype made — making modifications along the way. They added a walkway to the litter box — where the cat is forced to “wipe” its feet as it exits the box. The house also has built-in handles that look like gables for easy removal of the lid and a lip inside that forms a smooth seal preventing litter spills.Since last spring when the product was finally manufactured, over 54 independent pet stores, including Doogan’s Pet Emporium in Orangeville, have begun to carry the product; it’s also available on the Litterhouse website at www.litterhouse.ca.This was the local company’s third attempt to get on the Canadian TV show. They just found out last week that their episode would be aired.“Any exposure on television is good exposure,” says Bruce, president of the company. “Having the product aired on television we expect will increase our sales.”The local business owners didn’t want to ruin the show by publicizing whether they get a deal or not.Dykens did say he has gained valuable insight as a result of the experience.These days, when he sees his invention in the front window of pet stores, he feels a surge of pride.“It’s a heartwarming feeling. It’s been a long fight,” Dykens says. “To be the ‘father’ of an invention, it’s incredible.”Viewers can vote for The Litterhouse as the product that will get a deal on the Dragon’s Den website (www.cbc.ca/dragonsden); and, if the company gets the most votes, they could win an entrepreneur prize of $75,000. The Dragon’s Den airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. on CBC beginning Sept. 29.